THE leading election challenger to President Clinton, Republican Senator Robert Dole, has conceded that Mr Clinton's initiatives on Northern Ireland have been a policy victory and that, if elected, he will seek to build on them.
"So far it's a victory for Clinton. I don't mind saying that and I hope it succeeds," Mr Dole said. Mr Dole, who last week scored sweeping victories in nominating elections throughout America, virtually guaranteeing him the Republican Party candidacy, said he would hold to a tradition among US presidents not to dramatically reverse diplomatic initiatives by their predecessors.
He cited Mr Clinton's efforts to build on the Middle East policies of Republican predecessors Mr George Bush and Mr Ronald Reagan as an example. "It's like the Mideast," Mr Dole said of Mr Clinton's Northern Ireland policies. "Clinton has built on what Bush started and if I'm elected I'll build on what Clinton has started in Northern Ireland."
Earlier this month, Mr Dole said he would not have granted a visa to Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams without a renewal of the IRA ceasefire.
Mr Dole said the end of the ceasefire had put the process in turmoil and cautioned against unreasonable hopes that an American president could turn events around.
