Northern Ireland

The United States commends Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain and Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Ireland for their extraordinary efforts to push the Northern Ireland peace process to a new level of stability. We are greatly encouraged by the substantial progress that has been made in the recent talks.

A historic opportunity exists to move beyond the current impasse and build on the successes of the Good Friday Agreement. We urge the political leaders of Northern Ireland to make the most of this chance and endorse the way forward outlined by Prime Ministers Blair and Ahern.