US embassy cable - 04DUBLIN1281

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001281 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OVIP, OTRA, PREL, EAID 
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNS BOOKS, MEETS PM 
AHERN 
 
 
1.  Summary:  Former President Bill Clinton and Senator 
Hillary Clinton paid a private visit to Dublin August 24 - 
26.  While the main purpose of Clinton's trip was to promote 
his new book, he and the Senator also met with PM Ahern over 
dinner and a reception that included other ministers. 
Clinton publicly expressed optimism on Northern Ireland (NI) 
and accepted a GOI donation of approximately $7.2 million to 
kick-start a cooperative HIV/AIDS program in Mozambique 
involving the Irish Government and the Clinton Foundation. 
End Summary. 
 
============================================= =============== 
Clinton Meets with GOI Officials, Is Positive about Northern 
Ireland Peace Process, Receives Donation 
============================================= =============== 
 
2.  While in Dublin, the former President and Senator Hillary 
Clinton met privately with PM Bertie Ahern for an hour, 
followed by a dinner and reception hosted by the PM.  Several 
government ministers attended the reception, including 
Minster for Communications Dermot Ahern, Minister for 
Education Noel Dempsey, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 
Tom Kitt, Minister for State for Europe Dick Roche, and the 
Attorney General Rory Brady.  Prior to the reception, former 
President Clinton told reporters that he was in a "listening 
mode" for the visit and was hopeful that progress could be 
made in the upcoming September talks on Northern Ireland.  He 
expressed optimism at recent constructive statements by Sinn 
Fein President Gerry Adams and Democratic Ulster Party (DUP) 
deputy leader Peter Robinson. 
 
3.  At the reception, Minister Kitt announced a contribution 
of $7.2 million to kick-start a cooperative HIV/AIDS program 
in Mozambique involving the Irish Government and the Clinton 
Foundation, the former president's charitable trust. 
 
======================= 
Media Reaction Positive 
======================= 
 
4.  At a book signing in Dublin on August 25, approximately 
1,500 people queued three hours for the event.  News articles 
focused on the former president's continued popularity in 
Ireland and the contents of his book.  Most articles were 
positive and reported large crowds that met him at his stops 
around Dublin.  Saturday's Irish Times, however, reported 
that a crowd jeered the Clintons outside the Clinton Centre 
for International Peace in Northern Ireland.  Apparently, the 
crowd was disappointed when the Clintons left the Centre 
without first crossing the road to meet them. 
KENNY