Letter from America marks St Andrew's Day celebrations

Published on Monday 29 November 2010 16:21

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has delivered a special message to Scotland to mark St Andrew's Day in a move that suggests friction over the release of the Lockerbie bomber has subsided.

A statement delivered by Hillary Clinton on behalf of the president acknowledged the close ties between the two nations and "congratulated" the people of Scotland on their national day. It is thought to be the first time that an American government official, or an American administration, has sent such a message.

In a statement on the US Department of State website, Ms Clinton, US Secretary of State, said: "Scotland's unique culture and traditions have long been admired around the world, and the special ties between our two nations date back to the founding of the United States. From Patrick Henry and John Paul Jones to Davy Crockett and Neil Armstrong, trail-blazing Scottish-Americans have helped shape the history of our country in profound ways.

"Today, the US and Scotland continue to share strong ties rooted in our common ancestry, values, and interests. Our people work together on many of the most pressing challenges of our time, and both houses of the United States Congress have Friends of Scotland Caucuses to further promote friendship and co-operation between Scotland and the United States.

"I wish the people of Scotland a joyous St Andrew's Day celebration and a successful year ahead. We look forward to further deepening our friendship throughout the future."

The message is being seen as a diplomatic move to heal the rift which developed between the two countries over the release last year of the Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi who was jailed in 2001 for the Lockerbie bombing in which 270 people were killed.

Last year, Kenny MacAskill, the justice minister, took the decision to release Megrahi, who has prostate cancer, following medical advice. This sparked a trans-atlantic row which led to a group of US senators demanding that Scottish Ministers fly to the US to explain the decision. Megrahi is still alive in Libya.

Responding to Ms Clinton's comments, First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Scotland and the United States have deep and enduring ties of friendship, and we thank the Secretary of State for her warm and generous recognition of Scotland's national day.

"St Andrew's Day is an occasion for all those with ties to Scotland, wherever they are, to celebrate this country's unique contributions to the world."

Meanwhile, Mr Salmond has recorded his own St Andrew's Day message to the country, filmed at the home of golf. Speaking on the Old Course at St Andrews, Mr Salmond said: "St Andrew's Day means a lot of things. It is about having fun and celebrating all that is great about Scotland.And for me, being in the historic town of St Andrews brings home some of the remarkable achievements that Scotland has shared with the world in the past and continues to contribute.

"And, of course, Scotland's single greatest invention, universal education, which contributed to our intellectual achievements in the Enlightenment and the open-mindedness that has made today's Scotland a welcoming home to so many faiths and so many cultures. We can look back with pride, but also forward with confidence, as we develop advances in key sectors such as renewable energy, life sciences and the creative industries." l Due to student protests in Whitehall, Scotland Food & Drink's St Andrew's Day event at Dover House in London this evening has been cancelled.