WASHINGTON - US President George W. Bush on Thursday marked St Patrick's day at the White House by pledging to help Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and support the peace process in Northern Ireland.
"Today, we're proud to welcome a friend of peace, and a friend of freedom, my good friend, Bertie Ahern," Bush said at the traditional for the feast of Ireland's patron saint.
"Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank you for your tireless work in the struggle against terrorism on St. Patrick's island," said the president, who accepted the annual gift of a crystal bowl of shamrock.
Bush made no specific reference to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) or its ally, Sinn Fein, despite snubbing Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams by not inviting him and other Northern Ireland political leaders to the ceremony.
"It takes courage to walk the path of peace," said the US president. "As you work for peace, our government and the American people will stand with you."
The IRA and Sinn Fein have faced widespread condemnation after the killing of a Belfast man, Robert McCartney, blamed on IRA members, as well as a 50 million-dollar bank robbery also blamed on the group.
"Recent events have damaged confidence, but they've also crystalized what must now be done to finalize the process and achieve stable partnership of government in Northern Ireland," said Ahern.
"Partnership politics requires all parties to play their part. But if trust and confidence is to be established, tangible evidence of commitment to a democratic peace is essential," the prime minister said.
"The political conclusion envisaged by the agreement can only be realized when those who aspire to share in government have brought definitive closure to paramilitary capability and activity, including all forms of criminality."
It was the first St. Patrick's Day that Adams, and other Northern Ireland leaders, have not been invited to the White House since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland.
The deal paved the way for a Protestant-Catholic power-sharing assembly, but it was suspended more than two years ago amid allegations of IRA espionage.
British and Irish efforts to revive power-sharing and secure a permanent settlement collapsed before Christmas after Sinn Fein rejected Protestant demands for photographic proof of weapons decommissioning.
"We need to complete the work of achieving lasting peace and political partnership in Northern Ireland," said Ahern. "With your continued support and encouragement, Mr President, we will deliver that outcome."
03/17/2005 17:04 GMT