N Ireland’s political opposites reach deal
N Ireland’s political opposites reach deal
By John Murray Brown in Belfast
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: March 26 2007 20:57 | Last updated: March 26 2007 20:57
The body language was wary, rather than warm; there was no handshake and no private pleasantries but on Monday Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams – two leaders who have personified Northern Ireland’s bitter sectarian divide – took a historic step towards a long-term peace in the province.
Mr Paisley, leader of the largely protestant Democratic Unionist party, and Mr Adams, leader of Sinn Féin, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, sat side-by-side for the first time to say they would work together in a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland.
The deal is a watershed in the peace process to end decades of “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland – and marks a notable legacy for Tony Blair, the outgoing British prime minister who has worked for 10 years to achieve it. It paves the way for devolution to a local administration on May 8 – the day Mr Blair may well announce his resignation.
Mr Paisley will become first minister of Northern Ireland, with Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness his deputy.
The devolved Northern Ireland assembly, formed by the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, has been suspended with direct British rule in its place since 2002, after allegations of an IRA spy ring at the parliament.
Lifting of suspension was hampered by the fact two more moderate parties, which led the power-sharing executive at the time, were superseded as the community’s largest parties by the more hardline DUP and Sinn Féin.
The accord, struck yesterday behind closed doors in the members’ dining room at the Stormont parliament building, was the first time these political enemies had met face-to-face – and the first time the two parties had held any bilateral meeting.
Mr Blair described the breakthrough as “a very important day for Northern Ireland and the history of these islands”.
The agreement that allowed the British government to waive its threat to shut down the assembly last night was hailed by Bertie Ahern, Irish prime minister, as “unprecedented”.
In words that will have great meaning for communities on both sides of the sectarian divide, Mr Paisley declared: “We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future for our children.
“In looking to that future we must never forget those who have suffered during the dark period from which we are, please God, now emerging.”
Mr Adams was also anxious to acknowledge the “hurt and tragedy”. Like Mr Paisley he avoided direct recrimination. He, too, invoked the help of God to make devolution work.
By John Murray Brown in Belfast
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: March 26 2007 20:57 | Last updated: March 26 2007 20:57
The body language was wary, rather than warm; there was no handshake and no private pleasantries but on Monday Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams – two leaders who have personified Northern Ireland’s bitter sectarian divide – took a historic step towards a long-term peace in the province.
Mr Paisley, leader of the largely protestant Democratic Unionist party, and Mr Adams, leader of Sinn Féin, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, sat side-by-side for the first time to say they would work together in a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland.
The deal is a watershed in the peace process to end decades of “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland – and marks a notable legacy for Tony Blair, the outgoing British prime minister who has worked for 10 years to achieve it. It paves the way for devolution to a local administration on May 8 – the day Mr Blair may well announce his resignation.
Mr Paisley will become first minister of Northern Ireland, with Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness his deputy.
The devolved Northern Ireland assembly, formed by the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, has been suspended with direct British rule in its place since 2002, after allegations of an IRA spy ring at the parliament.
Lifting of suspension was hampered by the fact two more moderate parties, which led the power-sharing executive at the time, were superseded as the community’s largest parties by the more hardline DUP and Sinn Féin.
The accord, struck yesterday behind closed doors in the members’ dining room at the Stormont parliament building, was the first time these political enemies had met face-to-face – and the first time the two parties had held any bilateral meeting.
Mr Blair described the breakthrough as “a very important day for Northern Ireland and the history of these islands”.
The agreement that allowed the British government to waive its threat to shut down the assembly last night was hailed by Bertie Ahern, Irish prime minister, as “unprecedented”.
In words that will have great meaning for communities on both sides of the sectarian divide, Mr Paisley declared: “We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future for our children.
“In looking to that future we must never forget those who have suffered during the dark period from which we are, please God, now emerging.”
Mr Adams was also anxious to acknowledge the “hurt and tragedy”. Like Mr Paisley he avoided direct recrimination. He, too, invoked the help of God to make devolution work.
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