US President Biden appeals for 'peace' in Northern Ireland speech

It is now my great honor to introduce the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden. I did not have much time. This was the

president

's only engagement in Northern Ireland, where efforts to preserve Pace unite a polarized America that supports the people of the North. Ireland Protecting the

peace

by preserving the Belfast Good Friday agreement is a priority for Democrats and Republicans alike in the United States and that is unusual today Joe Biden had met privately with top political leaders before publicly appealing for a restoration of power sharing in Stormont as a friend, I hope it is not too presumptuous of me to say that I believe the Democratic institutions established that the Good Friday deal remained central to the future of Northern Ireland.

Sunak's New brexit Deal, did the

president

's words change anything? Well, it's nice to have the President of the United States here in Belfast, we welcome him as we welcome all visitors, but I don't think it will change the political dynamics or the reality that we What I need is reassurance that our place within the UK is respected and protected, well I want to say I really appreciate the fact that you have been so strongly committed to our

peace

process over the last 25 years and I asked you to stay on of course with us and really appreciated the fact that it's been very young people focused on this visit who have been talking about the prosperity opportunity investment opportunity, so in the quick conversation trying to include all those things was my challenge, but I think In fact, I have said that the Good Friday agreement has allowed a generation to grow up in peace, including the alumni who introduced it.

I think today has just been a reminder of how far we've come in the last 25 years and now of course. There are still plays going on today, but how resilient and capable is our generation to be able to make that piece happen in the next 25 years. This

speech

could be summed up in one word. Potential. The President urges Northern Ireland's political leaders not to miss the opportunity that exists. for significant economic investment here if there is a stable government there was a short bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister both leaders in Belfast marking 25 years since the historic engagement President Biden and I talked a lot about it and we talked in particular about the incredible economic opportunities that's in store for Northern Ireland and we talked about the investment potential that exists for companies that want to invest in Northern Ireland I think it's incredibly exciting or it's been growth jobs and prosperity for Northern Ireland and I know he shares my ambition to see The institutions here are working again and his message to this audience could not have been clearer when it comes to preserving peace and restoring power sharing to this corner of the UK.

America is still in the picture David Blevins Sky News in Belfast