President expressed 'strong view' on war and genocide

President Catherine Connolly has said that she conveyed to the US president the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted.

President Connolly and Donald Trump met for more than 20 minutes as part of a courtesy call at Áras an Uachtaráin this morning.

The meeting at the Phoenix Park did not have video cameras in the room but there were members of delegations present.

Following a ceremonial welcome, including the signing of the Distinguished Visitors Book, the playing of the National Anthems, and the Inspection of a Guard of Honour, the two presidents met for over 20 minutes in the President’s Drawing Room.

In a statement following the meeting, President Connolly said: “As President of Ireland, I am very conscious that Ireland and the United States of America are bound by strong ties. This is a deep connection, built over centuries, which allows us to speak openly to one another.

“We are in a world facing the existential threat posed by war and climate change, both of which are inextricably interlinked.

“I conveyed the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted.

“As a country which has suffered famine, colonisation and the violence of the Troubles, but also the importance of the long and challenging road to peace, I emphasised the unique insight which Irish people can bring to the resolution of conflict.

“I highlighted to President Trump the strong commitment which the Irish people have to international relations, to the importance of the United Nations, including the pride which Irish people feel in Ireland’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping since 1958, and to the obligations contained within Article 29 of our Constitution towards the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

“I assured President Trump that the Irish people would strongly support all those who have the strength to build a shared peace in all those parts of the world currently suffering from such horrific war and violence.”

President Connolly and President Trump also discussed the contribution of Irish emigrants to the United States, yesterday’s 25th Anniversary of 9/11, and the 250th Anniversary of the independence of the United States.

The statement said that in relation to Northern Ireland, President Connolly “noted the contribution made by the United States to the peace process, including through the International Fund for Ireland”.

President Connolly gifted President Trump a St Brigid’s Cross, a copy of the book ‘Navigatio Sancti Brendani – The Voyage of St Brendan’, and the collected poems of Michael Longley, including his sonnet ‘Ceasefire’.