The ball is in the court of Northern Ireland politicians if there is going to be political progress next month, former US president Mr Bill Clinton claimed today.
Bill Clinton arriving at the Europa Hotel in Belfast this morning
As he and his wife Senator Hillary Clinton arrived in Belfast for talks with political leaders at the start of a two-day visit, Mr Clinton said he was encouraged by some of the recent statements by key players in the peace process.
He also said a US administration led by Senator John Kerry would greatly assist the peace process if needed.
"I am curious and interested [by today's discussions]", he declared outside the Europa Hotel. "You know, I try to keep up and I try to be helpful.
"I think it's actually kind of encouraging what has been said lately. And the commitment that Prime Minister Blair and the Taoiseach have made in September and what the major parties have said."
Mr Clinton was greeted by a crowd of around 20 tourists and office workers as he arrived and went to greet them.
Afterwards he said there appeared to be a willingness on the part of parties including Sinn Féin and the Rev Ian Paisley's DUP to break through the political deadlock at Stormont.
Mr Clinton laughed off claims by one reporter that his book was keeping women awake at night. "I don't think many people stay up late reading it," he said. "You can read it in the daytime."
Mr Clinton is to sign copies of his memoirs in a Belfast city centre bookstore after meeting Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy, the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists and the nationalist SDLP.
His wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, will meet Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Ekin while taking part at a conference of women's leaders at City Hall.
She will then travel to Derry to deliver a lecture at the University of Ulster's Magee campus in memory of veteran US Democrat Tip O'Neill.