President, Irish prime minister celebrate nations' friendship

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a White House ceremony, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern presented President Bush with a traditional crystal bowl of shamrocks, symbolizing, he said, "the unique ties that draw our two nations together."

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern presents President Bush and first lady Laura Bush.

Bush, accompanied by his wife, Laura, dress in a bright green jacket, praised Ahern's work for peace in Ireland and around the world, and pledged to continue to help if needed.

"The peace that holds today in Northern Ireland is in no small way a tribute to the prime minister and his courageous leadership," Bush said, "and I assured him and will continue to do so that the United States stands ready to help in any way that the governments involved need."

The ceremony preceded a meeting Saturday with Irish, British and American leaders, including representatives of factions of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government.

"Ireland's most precious gift to the world has been the Irish," Bush said. "No nation has benefited more from Irish talent and industry than the United States. ... America is proud to call Ireland a friend, not just on St. Patrick's Day, but on every day."

Ahern thanked the United States for its help in bringing peace to Northern Ireland and Bush's pledge to do more as the provisions of the 1998 Good Friday agreement are implemented.

"It's good to be able to count on true friends," he said.

"The deep bonds between our two nations go beyond the ties of family and heritage," Ahern said. "We share a commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights."

As a current member of the U.N. Security Council, he said, "we are working intensely with you to promote these values across the world."

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