The first and deputy first ministers have discussed political progress in Northern Ireland during the first of two meetings with US President Barack Obama.
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Obama invited to NI
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Analysis
President Obama met with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness in the White House's Roosevelt Room, along with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice-President Joe Biden and US economic envoy Declan Kelly.
"We want to be as supportive as possible in advancing the Northern Ireland peace process", President Obama said.
Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness thanked him for his support, particularly in recent months.
They also discussed the efforts to secure further US investment in Northern Ireland.
"The stability we are building undermines dissident activity. That stands whether we are talking about political dissidents or paramilitary dissidents", Mr Robinson said.
"A stable, peaceful and prosperous society is the antithesis of everything these people stand for."
Mr McGuinness said the Hillsborough Agreement provided the region with an opportunity for a new start.
"The creation of jobs and the underpinning of the peace process are intertwined and it is vital that we focus our efforts to ensure no community is left behind and all benefit from the prosperity that we are striving to create for all our people," Mr McGuinness said.
After holding talks with Taoiseach Brian Cowen in the Oval Office, President Obama confirmed he would love to visit Ireland.
"I think there's always an invitation for any American President to come to Northern Ireland", Mr Robinson told UTV.
"We would especially be happy to see Barack Obama in Northern Ireland. I hope that before the term is over he'll be able to do that."
"He's very keen to come", UTV's Political Editor Ken Reid explained.
"At some point during his presidency I would expect that Barack Obama will be in Northern Ireland and indeed the whole of the island of Ireland."
A total of five ministers are in the US for meetings with political leaders and potential investors.
SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie has hit out at the decision not to invite the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists to the NI leaders' meeting with President Obama in the White House.
Ms Ritchie said: "It raises serious questions for me about the operation of a four-party executive. We are seeing the continuation of a two-party carve-up.
"That to me and to the SDLP it is totally unacceptable."
Ms Ritchie later met Mr Obama along with Irish premier, Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
Earlier she attended a St Patrick's Day breakfast at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC along with dozens of Northern Ireland guests and business leaders with an interest in Irish affairs.
Mr Robinson said it was up to President Obama to choose who he wanted to invite.
"We meet the president by his invitation. We could not hope to demand a meeting with the leader of the free world."
"Northern Ireland punches well beyond its weight in the access it has in the US," he added.
"It's good to see the commitment the administration has to Northern Ireland."
On Tuesday night, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness also held talks with Mrs Clinton.
Mr McGuinness said the meeting provided an opportunity to further cement the close ties with the current US administration.
"Over many years Secretary Clinton has played a hugely supportive role in that process and in our discussions (...) I welcomed her determination to continue that role."
The St Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington ended with an evening reception at the White House in the honour of Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who presented the American President with the traditional bowl of shamrocks.
Mr Cowen paid tribute to Ireland's deep bonds with America and urged the US President - who is thought to have roots in Moneygall, Co Offaly - to visit Ireland soon.
Thirty people from Northern Ireland attended the high-profile reception,
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