US insiders are divided over whether or not the Secretary of State’s visit to Northern Ireland will be beneficial, writes Jim Dee

Despite her new found power as America’s pre-eminent diplomat, opinion is divided amongst former US special envoys to Northern Ireland as to whether Hillary Clinton’s upcoming visit to Belfast will help to break the policing and justice devolution logjam.

Paula Dobriansky, George W Bush’s last special envoy to Northern Ireland, told the Belfast Telegraph that while Belfast’s politicians hold the key to the deadlock, Hillary’s stature should be a factor in the weeks ahead.

“Her trip is very timely,” said Dobrianksy during an interview from her office at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“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.”

Dobrianksy said that both Bill and Hillary Clinton can still have a peace process impact.

“They have always demonstrated their strong commitment. They know many players. And they can certainly, I think, play a pivotal role,” she said. However, Mitchell Reiss, Dobriansky’s predecessor as special envoy, dismissed the notion that Clinton’s involvement will be beneficial.

“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.

“The Secretary is very talented, and wherever she goes there’s news.

“I think that she’ll probably lift people’s spirits by her visit,” added Reiss.

Jim Lyons, President Clinton’s economic envoy to Northern Ireland from 1997 until 2001, said that the US 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 added the fact that Hillary Clinton is making the visit at all is truly remarkable.

“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.