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| Good Friday Agreement is a triumph of diplomacy - Hillary Clinton | Good Friday Agreement is a triumph of diplomacy - Hillary Clinton |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Hillary Clinton is the chancellor of Queen's University Belfast | |
| The Good Friday Agreement is a triumph of diplomacy and a testament to democracy, Hillary Clinton has said. | The Good Friday Agreement is a triumph of diplomacy and a testament to democracy, Hillary Clinton has said. |
| The former US secretary of state was speaking at an event to mark 25 years of the peace deal. | The former US secretary of state was speaking at an event to mark 25 years of the peace deal. |
| She said the credit for peace ultimately went to the brave people of Northern Ireland who took risks. | |
| Sir Tony Blair, who is also in Belfast for the conference, said the deal's institutions need continually worked at to secure them for the future. | Sir Tony Blair, who is also in Belfast for the conference, said the deal's institutions need continually worked at to secure them for the future. |
| The three-day Agreement 25 conference at Queen's University Belfast is hosting many global figures, including Bill Clinton and former US Senator George Mitchell, who chaired the talks that led to the 1998 peace deal. | |
| Senator Mitchell, who was the keynote speaker at the conference's launch, called on the people of Northern Ireland not to give up on their belief the future could be better. | |
| He also urged the current political leaders to act with the "courage and wisdom" that their predecessors had done. | |
| 'Old sores' | 'Old sores' |
| The peace accord was designed to bring an end to 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland, the Troubles. | The peace accord was designed to bring an end to 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland, the Troubles. |
| It was signed by Sir Tony and his Irish counterpart at the time, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Bertie Ahern. | It was signed by Sir Tony and his Irish counterpart at the time, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Bertie Ahern. |
| Mr Ahern told the BBC that barriers were broken down to secure the peace deal. | Mr Ahern told the BBC that barriers were broken down to secure the peace deal. |
| "We had the right mix of people and because we were at it night and day for eight or nine months, if not for a number of years before that," he told BBC Good Morning Ulster. | "We had the right mix of people and because we were at it night and day for eight or nine months, if not for a number of years before that," he told BBC Good Morning Ulster. |
| Sir Tony Blair said the personal relationship he had with Mr Ahern helped them get "over old sores" that the British and Irish governments faced. | Sir Tony Blair said the personal relationship he had with Mr Ahern helped them get "over old sores" that the British and Irish governments faced. |
| "We were both in the European Union together," he said. | "We were both in the European Union together," he said. |
| "All of that was very important in making sure that when we hit a roadblock there was a massive collected desire to make sure that we removed it." | "All of that was very important in making sure that when we hit a roadblock there was a massive collected desire to make sure that we removed it." |
| The settlement established power-sharing institutions at Stormont that involved nationalists and unionists governing Northern Ireland together. | The settlement established power-sharing institutions at Stormont that involved nationalists and unionists governing Northern Ireland together. |
| Analysis: Mark Simpson, BBC News NI correspondent | Analysis: Mark Simpson, BBC News NI correspondent |
| The Belfast conference is bringing politicians together in a way that was not possible 25 years ago. | The Belfast conference is bringing politicians together in a way that was not possible 25 years ago. |
| All the main parties in Northern Ireland will be under the same roof at the same time. | All the main parties in Northern Ireland will be under the same roof at the same time. |
| A quarter of a century ago, when Sinn Féin walked into the Stormont negotiations, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) walked out. | A quarter of a century ago, when Sinn Féin walked into the Stormont negotiations, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) walked out. |
| It took another decade for relations to normalise, or become as normal as things get in Northern Ireland politics. | It took another decade for relations to normalise, or become as normal as things get in Northern Ireland politics. |
| The stop-start nature of power-sharing since Good Friday 1998 shows that the deal was not perfect, to say the least. | The stop-start nature of power-sharing since Good Friday 1998 shows that the deal was not perfect, to say the least. |
| All things considered, there is a lot to discuss at the conference. The organisers are hoping the focus will be on solutions rather than the problems. | All things considered, there is a lot to discuss at the conference. The organisers are hoping the focus will be on solutions rather than the problems. |
| The conference from 17 to 19 April features speeches and panel discussions from former and current political leaders. | The conference from 17 to 19 April features speeches and panel discussions from former and current political leaders. |
| It is being held at a time when Northern Ireland is without a power-sharing government. | It is being held at a time when Northern Ireland is without a power-sharing government. |
| Its second-largest party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), collapsed the Stormont executive in February 2022 over its opposition to the trade arrangements for Northern Ireland that resulted from the original Brexit deal between the UK and the EU. | Its second-largest party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), collapsed the Stormont executive in February 2022 over its opposition to the trade arrangements for Northern Ireland that resulted from the original Brexit deal between the UK and the EU. |
| The Clintons have frequently reiterated their support for the peace process, with Bill Clinton making three trips to Northern Ireland during his presidency. | The Clintons have frequently reiterated their support for the peace process, with Bill Clinton making three trips to Northern Ireland during his presidency. |
| Prof Ian Greer, vice-chancellor of Queen's University, said this week's conference offered the "opportunity to reflect upon and recognise the achievements of 25 years ago". | Prof Ian Greer, vice-chancellor of Queen's University, said this week's conference offered the "opportunity to reflect upon and recognise the achievements of 25 years ago". |
| He said the agreement had "led to significant progress in Northern Ireland, delivering greater prosperity and a safer and more inclusive society". | He said the agreement had "led to significant progress in Northern Ireland, delivering greater prosperity and a safer and more inclusive society". |
| "We also want to look forward to how we address the major issues impacting society today so we can build on the current peace over the next 25 years." | "We also want to look forward to how we address the major issues impacting society today so we can build on the current peace over the next 25 years." |
| What is the Good Friday Agreement? | What is the Good Friday Agreement? |
| The prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, and then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern sign the Good Friday Agreement | The prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, and then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern sign the Good Friday Agreement |
| Also known as the Belfast Agreement, it was a political deal designed to bring an end to 30 years of violent conflict known as the Troubles. | Also known as the Belfast Agreement, it was a political deal designed to bring an end to 30 years of violent conflict known as the Troubles. |
| Signed on 10 April 1998 and approved by public votes in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it is based on the idea of co-operation between communities. | Signed on 10 April 1998 and approved by public votes in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it is based on the idea of co-operation between communities. |
| It helped to set up a new government for Northern Ireland, representing both nationalists and unionists. | It helped to set up a new government for Northern Ireland, representing both nationalists and unionists. |
| Read more: What is the Good Friday Agreement? | Read more: What is the Good Friday Agreement? |
| Last week US President Joe Biden visited the island of Ireland over four days to mark the 25th anniversary of the agreement. | Last week US President Joe Biden visited the island of Ireland over four days to mark the 25th anniversary of the agreement. |
| He hailed the "tremendous progress" since the deal was signed, adding that Northern Ireland had been "transformed by peace; made technicolour by peace; made whole by peace". | He hailed the "tremendous progress" since the deal was signed, adding that Northern Ireland had been "transformed by peace; made technicolour by peace; made whole by peace". |
| Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also be in Northern Ireland this week, to pay tribute to the contribution young people have made to peace. | Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also be in Northern Ireland this week, to pay tribute to the contribution young people have made to peace. |
| Among those events will be a gala dinner to honour those who signed the deal. | Among those events will be a gala dinner to honour those who signed the deal. |
| Read more about the agreement | Read more about the agreement |
| EXPLAINER: What is the agreement? | EXPLAINER: What is the agreement? |
| ANALYSIS: Is it still fit for purpose? | ANALYSIS: Is it still fit for purpose? |
| REFLECTION: The 'bitter' price of peace | REFLECTION: The 'bitter' price of peace |
| Mr Sunak said he was due to meet some of the leading architects behind the peace agreement. | Mr Sunak said he was due to meet some of the leading architects behind the peace agreement. |
| He will acknowledge their "courage, imagination and perseverance" when he gives the closing speech at the conference. | He will acknowledge their "courage, imagination and perseverance" when he gives the closing speech at the conference. |
| Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement, scrutinising the deal's wording and hearing from some of the people who helped get it across the line. | Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement, scrutinising the deal's wording and hearing from some of the people who helped get it across the line. |
| Click here to listen on BBC Sounds. | Click here to listen on BBC Sounds. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Bill Clinton | Bill Clinton |
| Tony Blair | Tony Blair |
| The Troubles | The Troubles |
| Rishi Sunak | Rishi Sunak |
| Hillary Clinton | Hillary Clinton |
| Good Friday Agreement | Good Friday Agreement |