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Irish President Michael D Higgins hails UK friendship Irish President Michael D Higgins hails UK friendship
(35 minutes later)
Irish President Michael D Higgins has spoken of his country's "deep and enduring" friendship with Britain.Irish President Michael D Higgins has spoken of his country's "deep and enduring" friendship with Britain.
Speaking in Westminster during the first state visit to the UK by an Irish head of state, he said both countries could take "immense pride" in their work towards peace in Northern Ireland.Speaking in Westminster during the first state visit to the UK by an Irish head of state, he said both countries could take "immense pride" in their work towards peace in Northern Ireland.
But he said there was "still a road to be travelled" to reach lasting peace.But he said there was "still a road to be travelled" to reach lasting peace.
Earlier Mr Higgins met the Queen and visited Windsor Castle, and he will return there later for a state banquet.Earlier Mr Higgins met the Queen and visited Windsor Castle, and he will return there later for a state banquet.
In his speech to both Houses of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster, he said: "I stand here at a time when the relationship between our two islands has, as I have said, achieved a closeness and warmth that once seemed unachievable."In his speech to both Houses of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster, he said: "I stand here at a time when the relationship between our two islands has, as I have said, achieved a closeness and warmth that once seemed unachievable."
Mr Higgins spoke of the "pain and sacrifice" associated with Irish independence from the UK in 1922, which he said cast a "long shadow across our relations".Mr Higgins spoke of the "pain and sacrifice" associated with Irish independence from the UK in 1922, which he said cast a "long shadow across our relations".
"We acknowledge that past but, even more, we wholeheartedly welcome the considerable achievement of today's reality - the mutual respect, friendship and cooperation which exists between our two countries," he said. "We acknowledge that past but, even more, we wholeheartedly welcome the considerable achievement of today's reality - the mutual respect, friendship and co-operation which exists between our two countries," he said.
Before his speech, Mr Higgins visited Westminster Abbey and laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior - the tomb of a British soldier of World War One. This is customary on state visits.Before his speech, Mr Higgins visited Westminster Abbey and laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior - the tomb of a British soldier of World War One. This is customary on state visits.
His trip comes after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland three years ago. He and his wife Sabina also stopped to look at a memorial to the Queen's cousin, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979.
Mr Higgins' trip comes after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland three years ago.
Then Sinn Fein did not take part, but Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, a former IRA commander, will attend the banquet hosted by the Queen later.Then Sinn Fein did not take part, but Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, a former IRA commander, will attend the banquet hosted by the Queen later.
Mr Higgins was greeted at the Irish embassy in London earlier by Prince Charles before heading to Windsor where he shook hands with the Queen and Prince Philip.Mr Higgins was greeted at the Irish embassy in London earlier by Prince Charles before heading to Windsor where he shook hands with the Queen and Prince Philip.
During his visit, which ends on Friday, he is also due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street, pay tribute to the work of Irish health professionals, and meet business leaders and London Mayor Boris Johnson.During his visit, which ends on Friday, he is also due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street, pay tribute to the work of Irish health professionals, and meet business leaders and London Mayor Boris Johnson.
The statesman, who came to England to work as a waiter when he was 21, said his visit would be "very important for the relationships between the people of Ireland and UK".The statesman, who came to England to work as a waiter when he was 21, said his visit would be "very important for the relationships between the people of Ireland and UK".
He will be joined on the trip by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore.He will be joined on the trip by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore.
BBC Ireland correspondent Andy Martin said the trip could not have happened 20 years ago because of "lingering acrimony" between the two countries.BBC Ireland correspondent Andy Martin said the trip could not have happened 20 years ago because of "lingering acrimony" between the two countries.
Our correspondent added that "changed entirely three years ago", when the Queen laid a wreath at a memorial to those who died fighting for Ireland's independence.Our correspondent added that "changed entirely three years ago", when the Queen laid a wreath at a memorial to those who died fighting for Ireland's independence.
The Queen set another historic precedent two years ago when she shook hands with Mr McGuinness during a trip to Belfast.The Queen set another historic precedent two years ago when she shook hands with Mr McGuinness during a trip to Belfast.
Conor Murphy, a Sinn Fein MP and former IRA member, said the president's visit was a "symbolically significant step" on the "journey towards reconciliation and better relationships".Conor Murphy, a Sinn Fein MP and former IRA member, said the president's visit was a "symbolically significant step" on the "journey towards reconciliation and better relationships".
But in a sign of the tensions caused by Sinn Fein's participation in some of the events, Stephen Gault - whose father was killed by an IRA bomb in 1987 - accused republicans of trying to "airbrush" history.But in a sign of the tensions caused by Sinn Fein's participation in some of the events, Stephen Gault - whose father was killed by an IRA bomb in 1987 - accused republicans of trying to "airbrush" history.
"How can I forgive somebody who hasn't turned around and asked for my forgiveness?" he said of Mr McGuinness on BBC Radio 4's Today programme."How can I forgive somebody who hasn't turned around and asked for my forgiveness?" he said of Mr McGuinness on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
For centuries Ireland was under British or English rule and the more recent troubles can be traced back to the partition of the country. For centuries Ireland was under British or English rule and the more recent Troubles can be traced back to the partition of the country.
Ireland won independence following a civil war and guerrilla campaign against British forces. Ireland won independence following a civil war, but six counties were kept under British control, creating Northern Ireland.
But six counties were kept under British control, creating Northern Ireland.
President Higgins said before his visit that there were "a lot of very difficult memories" and that it would be wrong to "wipe the slate clean".President Higgins said before his visit that there were "a lot of very difficult memories" and that it would be wrong to "wipe the slate clean".
Asked about the Northern Irish peace process, he said: "Affecting a kind of amnesia is of no value to you, you are better to honestly deal with our facts that are standing behind you as shadows. "How could I say to any family whose family member might be in a wheelchair or somebody who is dead, you must put it behind you?" he said.
"How could I say to any family whose family member might be in a wheelchair or somebody who is dead, you must put it behind you?"
Meanwhile Peter Hain - Northern Ireland secretary from 2005 to 2007 - suggested there should be no more prosecutions for offences committed before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.Meanwhile Peter Hain - Northern Ireland secretary from 2005 to 2007 - suggested there should be no more prosecutions for offences committed before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
He said his proposal was not an "amnesty", but "perhaps some special judicial process" where people could come forward and admit crimes but not be sentenced.He said his proposal was not an "amnesty", but "perhaps some special judicial process" where people could come forward and admit crimes but not be sentenced.
Mr Hain said the state visit by Mr Higgins was "hugely significant" and would have been "unthinkable" just five years ago due to the "troubled and tangled" history between the countries.
Mr Higgins has been a stalwart of Irish public life, as a politician, poet and the subject of songs.Mr Higgins has been a stalwart of Irish public life, as a politician, poet and the subject of songs.
In an interview with the BBC's Fergal Keane on the eve of the visit, the president was asked if he would bring a gift for the Queen.In an interview with the BBC's Fergal Keane on the eve of the visit, the president was asked if he would bring a gift for the Queen.
"Oh yes," he said. "Something equine, something cultural. The warmth around this visit has been tremendous.""Oh yes," he said. "Something equine, something cultural. The warmth around this visit has been tremendous."
The president and his wife Sabina are expected to fly back to Dublin on Friday afternoon after a week of engagements.