Part One
PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND — THE BELFAST/GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT AND THE UNITED STATES
The 1990’s was a lively, dynamic period. The final decade before the new millennium was referred to as a decade of peace and prosperity. The two previous decades of the 1970’s and 1980’s saw attempted peace talks in Northern Ireland break down. However, moving into the 1990’s, there was a time and a tide and indeed a view that the end of the century was going to see a whole new perspective. This period found people who were very determined and committed to the cause of peace in Northern Ireland and they happened to be in the right place at the right time.
There were several key developments in the early and mid-1990’s that were a prelude to the peace process such as the British and Irish Governments issuing a Joint Declaration in December of 1993 which provided a vision for securing peace in Northern Ireland whereby the people of Northern Ireland could decide on its future.
In 1996, talks began between the British and Irish Governments plus representatives from ten political parties of Northern Ireland. These talks set out to address the many obstacles standing in the way of peace and to reach an agreement on how Northern Ireland should be governed. The talks were chaired by a United States Senator, George Mitchell, who was appointed to the role by President Clinton and, after nearly two years of negotiations trying to reach common ground on opposing viewpoints, he specified a deadline for agreement—midnight, 9 April 1998. This deadline was not achieved. However, the two governments and Northern Ireland’s parties worked through the night until a final agreement was reached the following morning. It was then announced in the late afternoon on Good Friday, 10 April that an Agreement had been attained, signifying an end to decades of violence in Northern Ireland and the beginning of what was to be a lasting peace.
The Agreement focused on the following core elements: The establishment of a power sharing Northern Ireland government structure consisting of an Assembly and Executive to deal with local issues. Next, the relationship between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland whereby there would be co-operation on key areas such as health, farming, and other areas of mutual interest. Finally, the relationship between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom whereby a British-Irish Council was established. Other noteworthy points of the Agreement included the ‘principle of consent’ which would recognise the wishes of the majority in whether Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom or part of a united Ireland, the right to hold both British and Irish citizenship as well as safeguards in place to protect people’s human rights and promote equality. Referendums were then held on 22 May 1998 both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland to determine public support for the Agreement.
It was met with overwhelming support by a large majority ‘Yes’ vote on both sides of the border. In Northern Ireland, 71 per cent of those who voted, indicated their support for the Agreement and in the Republic of Ireland it was 95 per cent.
The Agreement led to a joint Nobel Peace Prize for the leaders of two of Northern Ireland’s political parties, David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and John Hume, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), recognising their part in the negotiations of the Peace Agreement.