Robinson And McGuinness Meet EU Parliament President

First Minster Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness met this week with the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering who was on a two day visit to the North.

Ministers briefed the President on political developments and also discussed the present economic downturn and how the EU can help this region to tackle its effects. Ministers also outlined the ongoing work being undertaking in relation to the Barroso Taskforce.

Welcoming the visit by President Pöttering, the First Minister said: "Since devolution we have actively engaged with Europe in order to maximise the best possible benefit for Northern Ireland.

"At this time of economic instability we are determined to ensure financial and other support from all possible sources including the EU.

"This visit by President Pottering is the latest demonstration of Europe's continued interest in this region and it serves to further develop and strengthen our EU-NI relationship which will ultimately bring rich benefits across Northern Ireland."

Describing the President's visit as highly important the deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "The significance of President Pöttering's visit is underlined by the fact that around four out of every five legislative decisions affecting people and businesses here are agreed jointly by the European Parliament, which he heads, and the European Council of Ministers.

"In our discussions we were able to update the President on recent political developments here as well as briefing him on the progress to date regarding the Barroso Taskforce."

Following his meeting with First Minister and deputy First Minister, President Pöttering addressed MLA's in the Senate Chamber in Parliament Buildings.

Later in the afternoon he was escorted by Junior Ministers Jeffrey Donaldson and Gerry Kelly when he visited St Joseph's Primary School in Lisburn and the Suffolk and Lenadoon Interface Group in West Belfast.

During these visits President Pöttering discussed with Primary 7 children from St Joseph's, Harmony Hill and St Aloysius's Primary Schools, their project work on families and individuality which is part of the Educating for Diversity project.

He also met with members of the Suffolk and Lenadoon Interface group to hear about the work the group is doing to reduce tension and build relationships in the area.

President Pöttering also welcomed the idea of creating a 'conflict transformation centre' at the Long Kesh site, near Lisburn in County Antrim.

"It is very useful to have a centre where you study the development of the reconciliation process," he said.

"We should learn from history, from the good developments, from the bad development.

"We should give the lessons we take from history to future generations and I would welcome the building of such a centre."

Not everyone was happy with the idea though, anti-agreement unionist MEP Jim Allister insisting that it was "clear that the DUP has caved in to Sinn Fein's key demand over the Maze shrine.

"This conflict transformation centre will indeed be a site for the glorification of terrorism, particularly of the suicide hunger strikers, and the rewriting of history at which republicanism excels."

His visit concluded with a special dinner in his honour hosted by the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Parliament Buildings.