Bill Clinton: “President Bill Clinton, the Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair March 18, 1999 As…”

“President Bill Clinton, the Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair March 18, 1999 As we approach the first anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we can all take heart at how far we have come in a year. The Agreement has provided the basis for the two traditions to work together, both in Northern Ireland and on the island as a whole, for the first time in 200 years. Democratically endorsed by an emphatic majority of people in both the North and the South, it gives a unique opportunity for peace and reconciliation in which all the signatories can take pride. It has rightly been acknowledged as an example to the rest of the world of how dialogue can bring an end to conflict. Much progress has been made in implementing the Agreement. The basis for a new partnership government in Northern Ireland has been agreed. Elections have been held. Last week, the Irish and British Governments signed treaties providing for the establishment of North/South implementation bodies, a North/South Ministerial council, a British-Irish Council and a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. With these treaties, arrangements have been finalized for institutions which will provide for a new level of cooperation and partnership. This will bring real, practical benefits to everyone concerned.…”