8th May 1998

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The following is an extract from a statement issued by the United States President Bill Clinton in which he announced a new multi million funding package for Northern Ireland.

During his statement the President pledged his continuing support for plans to build a campus in North and West Belfast - a project initiated and developed by the University of Ulster.

"I am committed to seeing that the new West Belfast Springvale campus project is completed. I intend to work with Congress to make available up to five million dollars to make this happen. As a first step, I am directing Jim Lyons, my advisor for economic initiatives, who is also our observer on the Board of the International Fund of Ireland, to confirm that the IFI will approve those funds. Four years ago, at our initiative, we and our partners in the IFI provided the initial five million pounds that seeded this project. Straddling the Peace Line that once divided Protestant from Catholic, the Springvale campus will give students of both communities the chance to acquire the education to match their indomitable spirit - and in so doing, encourage cohesion, community pride and economic growth.

"I am asking the United States Information Agency to support the Springvale campus with its full range of educational programs, including Fulbright, International Visitors and Citizen Exchanges. USIA will also foster links between Springvale and one or more American universities to promote cooperation between their faculties and establish long-term ties."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk