New executive partnership engage in busy US tour

First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan have a busy itinerary for the closing stage of their week-long programme of US talks.

The ministerial pairing will visit many of the opinion formers on the Washington's Capitol Hill, and have already met national security advisor Condoleezza Rice to brief officials on the current state of the peace process.

Mr Trimble and his deputy were also expected to see the national security advisor and the US special advisor on Northern Ireland Richard Haass.

On Wednesday, Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan are due to meet editors of the Washington Post newspaper and are then scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by former secretary of state Madelaine Albright.

The ministers will open a Northern Ireland executive's branch offices – the second of its kind outside of the UK. It is hoped that the establishment of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington will help facilitate the promotion of executive departments and interests overseas and comes less than a week after the opening of the Brussels office.

Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan have arranged to meet both Democratic and Republican party committees and discussions with Congressional powerbrokers are planned – including a meeting with senator for New York, Hilary Clinton.

The Executive ministers will also consult with the House of Representatives' International Relations Committee, which has been investigating links between the IRA and Colombian rebels.

Last Sunday, Mr Durkan and Mr Trimble participated in a debate on Northern Ireland at the World Economic Forum in New York and met with State Governor George Pataki on Monday to lay a wreath at Ground Zero on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland.

Officials remained upbeat about the prospect of a meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell before the end of the week-long visit, but that has yet to be confirmed.

(GMcG)