Republican News · Thursday 20 February 2003

Belfast Mayor on US coast to coast tour

Belfast Mayor Alex Maskey is in the US on a coast to coast tour, covering eleven cities including Boston, New York, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Chicago, San Francisco, Oakland and Seattle. Among those that he will meet are fellow mayors, civil leaders and business people.

"It is unprecedented for a Mayor from Belfast to embark on such a project," said Maskey.

"There is a lot of goodwill across North America for the people of Ireland and particularly for the people of Belfast. I will be tapping into that goodwill.

"My message is simple and straightforward: 'Peace, inward investment and job creation'.

"This is a great opportunity for me as Mayor to promote Belfast, despite its difficulties, as a place to invest in and to visit and enjoy.

"I will be carrying forward the City Council's economic plan and this week I met with 'Invest Northern Ireland' to get an economic briefing from them. My intention is to lobby as widely as I can on behalf of both agencies."