Assembly's Top Team Begin US Trip

The NI Assembly's top team, the First and Deputy First Ministers are today making all the right connections by meeting senior figures from Wall Street - with President Bush scheduled to greet the pair later in the week.

The previously unlikely duo, DUP leader, Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness are in New York giving the 'City That Never Sleeps a wake-up call' that "Northern Ireland is open for business".

The faces of the Province's joint political leaders were also due to be up in lights at the worlds' most famous junction — on the massive screen in Times Square.

Another highlight on the opening day of their five-day first joint visit to the United States, will see the veteran DUP politician and McGuinness – a former IRA boss - welcomed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

It is a busy and demanding schedule opening with the two at a business breakfast with financial service executives, visiting the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street and later in the day meeting 25 corporate chief executives.

Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness then head on Wednesday for Washington, and a round of talks on Capitol Hill before they meet President George Bush in the White House on Friday.

It is the first opportunity for Americans to see the former bitter rivals who now share the senior posts in a restored devolved government.

Paisley said the trip "provides an opportunity to engage at the highest level with US business and political leaders. Northern Ireland is open for business ... we have never been in a better position to boost our economic prospects."

His 'partner', Martin McGuinness added: "We would issue an open invitation to businesses here to come and see at first hand the attractions that we can offer in terms of the skills our people have to offer and the fact that we are an ideal location to assist your business with international growth."

(BMcC)