Readout of the President and Vice President's Meeting with the Leaders of Northern Ireland

President Obama dropped by a meeting yesterday between Vice President Biden and the leaders of Northern Ireland, First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. The President and Vice President were accompanied by former Senator Gary Hart, who has served as Secretary of State John Kerry’s Personal Representative to the Northern Ireland talks. The President and Vice President congratulated the First Minister on her election to office in January, and commended both leaders for the progress being made in the Northern Ireland peace process, specifically the successful conclusion of the Stormont House Agreement in December 2014 and the Fresh Start Agreement in November 2015. The President and Vice President urged the Ministers to move forward with implementation of the agreements, including setting up institutions to deal effectively with the past, and reiterated U.S. support for the peace process.