FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNS BOOKS, MEETS PM

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