Hillary Clinton faces a crisis on Northern Ireland visit

Sinn Fein and the DUP at loggerheads over devolution of policing and justice powers

Dobriansky went on to say that “it will also be very important in terms of the traditional exchange and discourse that takes place with Irish officials and also British officials about how we can all assist in the movement forward of issues in Northern Ireland.”

However, Mitchell Reiss, Dobriansky’s predecessor as special envoy, and widely viewed as the least effective envoy since the position was created was more critical.

“It is actually detrimental to the political maturity of Northern Ireland to continue to look for outsiders to solve the problems,” said Mr Reiss.

“The people of Northern Ireland are perfectly capable of solving these issues themselves.That’s what a lot of the conflict was over.

“So, to expect that the United States is going to descend ‘deus ex machina’ from the skies and make everything nice, is misleading, and I
think it undermines the political process in the North."

Jim Lyons, a Colorado lawyer who was President Clinton's envoy, thinks the Hillary visit will be a good development. “I think that she’ll
probably lift people’s spirits by her visit,”  said Lyons who was envoy to Northern Ireland from 1997 until 200.

He also stated that the U.S. government’s peace process role has always been “to provide a mediator’s role, if you will, a safe space within which otherwise difficult conversations could take place.

“And, as a 40-year trial lawyer and as someone who has done my own share of mediations, I think that role can often be critical toward
finding common ground,” said Mr Lyons during an interview from his Denver, Colorado, office.

He said the fact Hillary Clinton is making the visit at all is extraordinary.

“With all that the United States is facing at the moment — two wars, an economy in great difficulty, healthcare reform, Iran, new relations with China and India — with all that this woman has on her plate, I think it’s an absolute clear indication of her interest in Northern
Ireland that she’d be making time to go there herself,” he said.

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Nster.com