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Joe Biden hails Northern Ireland as 'shrine of creativity' in Belfast visit Joe Biden hails Northern Ireland as 'shrine of creativity' in Belfast visit
(about 2 hours later)
Joe Biden's only official engagement in Belfast was to open a new university campusJoe Biden's only official engagement in Belfast was to open a new university campus
Northern Ireland is a "shrine of creativity", US President Joe Biden has said on a landmark visit to Belfast. US President Joe Biden has praised Northern Ireland as a "shrine of creativity" on his visit to Belfast.
Earlier he met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a briefly meeting local political party leaders. Earlier he met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a briefly meeting some of Stormont's political party leaders.
He is on a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - a peace deal which helped end 30 years of violent conflict in NI. He is on a four-day visit to Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - a peace deal which helped to end 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.
He hailed the "tremendous progress" since it was signed in 1998.He hailed the "tremendous progress" since it was signed in 1998.
"This place is transformed by peace, made technicolour by peace, made whole by peace," he said."This place is transformed by peace, made technicolour by peace, made whole by peace," he said.
"Let's celebrate 25 extraordinary years by recommitting to renewal, repair, by making this exceptional peace a birth right of every child in Northern Ireland for all the days to come." He said that economic opportunities for Northern Ireland were "just beginning" and he praised young people, describing them as being on the "cutting edge" of the future.
Mr Biden was speaking at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast, his only official engagement in Northern Ireland. The US President mentioned Northern Ireland actor James Martin, star of Oscar-winning film An Irish Goodbye, during his speech
He urged politicians to make a return to power-sharing at Stormont, but praised them for their efforts after the attempted murder of a senior police officer in February. President Biden was speaking at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast, his only official engagement in Northern Ireland.
Det Ch Insp John Caldwell was shot several times by two gunmen in front of his son in the car park of a sports complex in Omagh, County Tyrone. His visit came at a time when Northern Ireland's power-sharing government at Stormont is not functioning.
"Northern Ireland will not go back [to violence]," he added. It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties - pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
He said that economic opportunities for Northern Ireland were "just beginning" and praised local young people, describing them as being on the "cutting edge" of the future. Mr Biden urged politicians to make a return to governing but praised them for their unity after the attempted murder of one of Northern Ireland's top detectives in February.
'A future to be proud of' John Caldwell was shot several times by two gunmen in Omagh, County Tyrone.
Before his address, US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Joe Kennedy, spoke about American investment in the region, including cyber security. BBC News NI understands that Rishi Sunak met John Caldwell and his family this afternoon.
"Some of the biggest companies in the world have set up shop here, and now entrepreneurs with dreams to outcompete them are following," he said.
"I look forward to drawing on your energy and your ideas and to making sure that we bring prosperity to all corners of Northern Ireland.
"It's a future to be proud of."
President Biden leaving for his speaking event at Ulster University
Northern Ireland's power-sharing government is not currently functioning.
It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties at Stormont - pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
Before meeting political leaders, the president was asked what he would say to Northern Ireland's political parties.
Mr Biden answered: "I'm going to listen."
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill, Alliance Party leader Naomi long, Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie and the Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Colum Eastwood took part in brief discussions on Wednesday morning.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Beattie said they discussed the progress made since the Good Friday Agreement and the economic opportunities for Northern Ireland.
President Biden managed to deliver a speech that hit all the right notes with the invited audience.
And he was swamped as he left the stage by people armed with their phones for a selfie.
His speech was very much pitched at reminding people what is at stake.
Peace, said Mr Biden, cannot be taken for granted.
He reminded those in the room about the risks taken 25 years ago by the architects of the Good Friday Agreement.
Democracy in Northern Ireland needs champions now to do the same, he added.
While he didn't namecheck the DUP, it was pretty clear to whom he was directing those comments in terms of getting Stormont back up and running.
Belfast woman Ann-Marie O'Hare waited to catch a glimpse of the city's famous visitor
Mr Biden arrived in Belfast city centre at about 22:20 BST on Tuesday after making the journey from the airport in his presidential motorcade.
He was greeted by Mr Sunak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport and stayed overnight at a Belfast hotel.
Security breach investigated
A huge security operation is in place, with many city centre streets closed.
Bedford Street, York Street, Donegall Street, Frederick Street and Great Patrick Street are closed to traffic with restrictions on Dunbar Link.
There is a heavy police presence on the ground but the Police Service of Northern Ireland hopes roads will be reopened in time for the evening rush hour.
Several roads in Belfast city centre are closed until later on Wednesday
Meanwhile, BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show has been shown a document marked "PSNI and sensitive" which appears to give details of the security operation.
It lists and names police officers in charge of the area around Mr Biden's hotel and was found lying on a street by a member of the public.
The PSNI said it was investigating a security breach and would put "appropriate actions in place".
"We take the safety of visiting dignitaries, members of the public and our officers and staff extremely seriously," it said.
Watch: Biden lands in Belfast
Watch: Biden lands in Belfast
Read more about Biden's visitRead more about Biden's visit
Biden's blink and you'll miss it visit to NIBiden's blink and you'll miss it visit to NI
Is this a missed opportunity for Stormont?Is this a missed opportunity for Stormont?
Why Ireland is so important to Joe BidenWhy Ireland is so important to Joe Biden
Mr Biden's trip to Belfast was the first leg of a four-day stay in Ireland, during which he will also discuss his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives. His sister Valerie and his son Hunter have joined him on the visit. During his speech, the president said: "Northern Ireland will not go back [to violence]."
Ahead of the visit, Michelle O'Neill, vice-president of Sinn Féin, the largest party at Stormont, said the visit was a "special moment". Before briefly meeting the political leaders, Mr Biden was asked what he would say to Northern Ireland's political parties.
"As we look back with pride at just how far we have all come, and all that has been achieved, we also look forward with hope, ambition, and opportunity for the next 25 years," she added. "I'm going to listen," he answered.
However, speaking on GB News on Tuesday evening, former DUP leader and first minister Arlene Foster described Mr Biden as "the most partisan president there has ever been when dealing with Northern Ireland" and accused him of hating the UK. After leaving Belfast early this afternoon, Mr Biden began his journey to County Louth in the Republic of Ireland where he is expected to meet some of his Irish relatives.
US President Joe Biden was greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Belfast International Airport on Tuesday night His sister Valerie and his son Hunter have joined him on the visit.
She said his visit to Belfast would not put any pressure on the DUP to restore the Northern Ireland Executive because he is regarded as "simply pro-republican and pro-nationalist". President Biden managed to deliver a speech that hit all the right notes with the invited audience.
Former Irish ambassador to the US, Daniel Mulhall, said that while Mr Biden would have preferred to have spoken to politicians at a functioning Stormont assembly, his speech was "very carefully crafted to get across the message that essentially America is here to help". As he left the stage he was swamped by people armed with their phones for a selfie.
The Good Friday Agreement explained in 90 seconds His speech was pitched at reminding people what is at stake - peace, said Mr Biden, cannot be taken for granted.
The Good Friday Agreement explained in 90 seconds He reminded those in the room about the risks taken 25 years ago by the architects of the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Biden's trip comes two weeks after MI5 said the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland had increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicans. Democracy in Northern Ireland needs champions now to do the same, he added.
During an illegal parade by dissident republicans in Londonderry on Monday, petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle but the violence was confined to one area and ended a short time later. While he didn't namecheck the DUP it was clear to whom he was directing those comments about getting Stormont back up and running.
On Tuesday, police found four suspected pipe bombs inside the grounds of the City Cemetery in Derry. They believe they were to be used in a planned attack on officers after Monday's parade. Before Mr Biden's address in Belfast, US Special Envoy Joe Kennedy spoke about the significance of American investment in Northern Ireland.
The president's spokesman said Mr Biden was "more than comfortable making this trip" in spite of the terrorism threat. "Some of the biggest companies in the world have set up shop here and now entrepreneurs with dreams to outcompete them are following," he said.
Joe Biden will visit the locations marked on this map during his four days in Ireland "I look forward to drawing on your energy and your ideas and to making sure that we bring prosperity to all corners of Northern Ireland."
After listening to Mr Biden's speech at the university, Michelle O'Neill, vice-president of Sinn Féin, the largest party at Stormont, said the message was "one of hope and opportunity".
Watch: The Good Friday Agreement explained in 90 seconds
Watch: The Good Friday Agreement explained in 90 seconds
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he did not get a sense that the president was urging his party to do more to restore power-sharing during their brief private discussion.
"Like all of us, he wants to see the political institutions up and running again but we are very clear that can only happen when we have got the solid foundations that we need," he added.
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long described President Biden's speech as "positive, balanced, optimistic and hopeful for the future".
Doug Beattie, Ulster Unionist Party leader, said the meeting with Mr Biden was a fleeting "grip and grin" engagement.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described his meeting with the president as "positive".
Watch: Rishi Sunak greets Joe Biden after the US presidents lands in Belfast
Watch: Rishi Sunak greets Joe Biden after the US presidents lands in Belfast
Mr Biden arrived in Belfast city centre on Tuesday night, having been greeted by Mr Sunak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport.
A huge security operation was put in place, with many city centre streets closed but the police have said the roads should be reopened in time for this evening's rush hour.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was investigating a security breach after a document that appears to give details of the security operation was found on a street in the city by a member of the public.
BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show was shown the document, which is marked: "PSNI and sensitive."
It lists and names police officers in charge of the area around the hotel in which Mr Biden had stayed.
"We take the safety of visiting dignitaries, members of the public and our officers and staff extremely seriously," said the PSNI.
Joe Biden is visiting the locations marked on this map during his four days in Ireland
Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line.They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line.
Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds.Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
BelfastBelfast
United StatesUnited States
Good Friday AgreementGood Friday Agreement
Joe BidenJoe Biden