"The great triumph of this day [the establishment of Northern Ireland Assembly, Executive and North/South Council on December 2] is that the people of Northern Ireland now have the authority and the power to work together to build their own future.... And so I think the people of Northern Ireland, and their friends in the Irish Republic who voted for the necessary changes to implement the Good Friday Accord, and in Great Britain - they should know that what they have done is given enormous support and heart to people who are still struggling in very difficult circumstances everywhere in the world."

President Clinton
Interviews with Belfast Telegraph and BBC
December 2, 1999

Over the past 25 years, "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland have claimed nearly 4,000 lives and denied an end to political violence and a settlement of the Irish conflict. Working with the British and Irish governments, President Clinton has employed significant U.S. political and economic resources in support of peace. His own personal engagement, as well as the involvement of former Senator George Mitchell, who facilitated the multi-party talks, played an instrumental role in achieving the Good Friday Accord in April 1998 and overcoming hurdles to its implementation. The Accord represents the best hope in a generation for a just and lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Historic progress was made in December 1999 with the formation of an inclusive government in Northern Ireland, acceptance of the principle of consent with respect to any change in the territorial status of Northern Ireland, the launching of new institutions for North/South cooperation on the island and the first steps to address the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.

A RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

• Helped broker the Good Friday Accord, signed on April 10, 1998 at Stormont, Northern Ireland. The Accord provides for an inclusive government in Northern Ireland; constitutional amendments to enshrine the principle of consent with respect to any change in the territorial status of Northern Ireland; new institutions for North/South cooperation on the island of Ireland; safeguards in the areas of human rights and equality of opportunity; decommissioning of paramilitary weapons; normalization of security arrangements; reform of the police and judicial systems; and prisoner releases. The signing of the Accord marked the culmination of intense U.S. diplomacy beginning with President Clinton's bold decision to grant Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams a visa in August 1994, followed by cease-fire declarations by the IRA and Loyalists and the launching of all-party talks chaired by former Senator George Mitchell in September 1997.
• Achieved concrete progress towards full implementation of the Good Friday Accord on December 2, 1999 when Great Britain devolved power to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Northern Ireland Executive (government) was formed, the Irish Constitution was amended with respect to Ireland's territorial claim on Northern Ireland and the IRA appointed a representative to the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, ending a year-long impasse on this contentious issue.
• Increased investment in Northern Ireland. U.S. firms have invested $1.9 billion in Northern Ireland since 1994, with two-thirds of all first-time investment in Northern Ireland made by American companies, according to 1998 figures.
• Contributed $326.7 million to the International Fund for Ireland for development projects in Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland that promote economic and social advance and encourage reconciliation.
• Stimulated formation in 1999 of a joint Northern Ireland/private sector commitment of $800,000 to create a micro-finance company that gives individual entrepreneurs, especially in disadvantaged areas, unprecedented access to commercial credit.

TIMELINE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

 

Dec. 12-14, 2000	President Clinton makes third visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland as President, travelling to Dublin, Dundalk, Belfast and England. Talks with British and Irish governments and pro-Agreement political parties result in renewed momentum toward bridging differences on decommissioning paramilitary weapons, security normalization and policing.
September 13, 2000	President Clinton holds first meeting ever with leaders of new Northern Ireland Executive, First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon.
May 27, 2000	President Clinton calls David Trimble to congratulate him on winning the support of the Ulster Unionist Council to return to shared government (Executive and Assembly suspended February 11 - May 27, 2000).
May 6, 2000	President Clinton speaks with Prime Ministers Ahern and Blair and party leaders in support of measures agreed at Hillsborough to implement GFA, put IRA arms beyond use and undertake a confidence building measure to confirm that IRA arms remain secure.
March 17, 2000	President Clinton meets with Northern Ireland political party leaders during St. Patrick's Day events at the White House.
February 2000	President Clinton speaks with Prime Minister Blair, Prime Minister Ahern and party leaders on intensified efforts to implement GFA.
January 12, 2000	President Clinton meets with Gerry Adams at the White House to promote understandings reached in the Mitchell review.
December 20, 1999	President Clinton meets with David Trimble at the White House to promote understandings reached in the Mitchell review.
December 2, 1999	The British government devolves power to Northern Ireland Assembly. Ireland amends its constitutional territorial claim to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Executive meets. The IRA names a representative to the de Chastelain commission.
November 1999	President Clinton urges parties to set up GFA political institutions and work through de Chastelain commission to accomplish GFA decommissioning goals. Mitchell review concludes successfully with Senator Mitchell's final report to the British and Irish governments on November 18, 1999.
July 1999	President Clinton invites Senator George Mitchell to serve as facilitator of the review of Good Friday Accord implementation.
April 10, 1998	President Clinton plays critical role in negotiations leading to signing of the Good Friday Accord through active peace process diplomacy with key leaders on both sides, in person at 1998 St. Patrick's Day events at the White House and by telephone during crucial stages.
November 1995	President Clinton is the first U.S. President to visit Northern Ireland, stopping in London, Belfast and Dublin and galvanizing popular support for peace and leading to Senator Mitchell's direct involvement in the talks process. Follow-up visit to Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland in September 1998.
November 1994	President Clinton announces White House Initiative on Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties on November 1, 1994. Appoints Senator Mitchell Special Adviser for Economic Initiatives in Ireland on December 1.
January 1994	President Clinton grants Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams a visa as part of a strategy to bring about an IRA cease-fire.

REFERENCES

President's Address at Belfast Christmas Tree Lighting, November 30, 1995.

President's Address to the Irish Dail (parliament), Dublin, December 1, 1995.

Agreement Reached in the Multi-Party Negotiations, Belfast, April 10, 1998.

President's Interviews with Irish, British and U.S. Media, December 2, 1999.

Irish Times web site (www.ireland.com).

Northern Ireland Office web site (www.nio.gov.uk).

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