Bill Clinton's peace mediating efforts

U.S. President Bill Clinton has supervised the enlargement of NATO, sent warships to help Taiwan when Chinese missiles landed in the young democracy's territorial waters and maintained a tough line against the peace threats in Baghdad. But most of all he himself probably wants to be remembered for his peace mediating efforts.

The peace agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998 was historic. After almost 30 years of violence and 3,000 death victims, there was a real hope for peace in the province. Many unique circumstances teamed up to make the agreement impossible, but clearly the U.S. role was central. Clinton himself took an active part -- during the decisive night he was in telephone contact with the major negotiators.

In the Middle East the successes and setbacks have succeeded each other. An increasingly active Clinton has had to witness how an agreement is signed and negotiations deadlocked. It is however doubtful if there is time enough for him to be able to see the big breakthrough, that of (Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) Barak and (Palestinian leader Yasser) Arafat accepting his newly presented peace plan, before it is time to make room for George W. Bush in a couple of weeks.

-- Dagens Nyheter, Stockholm, Sweden