Former US President Bill Clinton, from left, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chat on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Former US President Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wave to reporters on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Hillary Clinton attends the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) Former U.S. Sen. and chairman of negotiations George Mitchell, left, listens to former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speak on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) Former U.S. Sen. and chairman of negotiations George Mitchell attends the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) Participants attend the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) The sculpture Hands of History is on display ahead of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA via AP) Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, left, and Gary McMichael, former leader of the Ulster Democratic Party, arrive for a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) Joe Kennedy III, US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, arrives for a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA via AP) Joe Kennedy III, US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, left, shares a laugh with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) From left, Gary McMichael, former leader of the Ulster Democratic Party, John Alderdice, British member of the House of Lords, and former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, share a word on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill, left, and party leader Mary Lou McDonald, attend the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) FILE- From left, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, pose together after signing the Good Friday Agreement, in, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Friday, April 10, 1998. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, April 17, 2023, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Dan Chung/Pool Photo via AP, File) US President Bill Clinton, right, meets with Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, during a reception at Queen's University in Belfast, Thursday Nov. 30, 1995. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, April 17, 2023, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Joe Marquette, File) Participants pose for a 'family photo' on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Former US President Bill Clinton, from left, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Bertie Ahern wave to journalists on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, left, and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chat on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams speaks at the three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Liam McBurney /PA via AP) Bertie Ahern, second-longest serving Taoiseach, speaks during an interview on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Britain's former Prime Minister Tony Blair, right, and former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell are all smiles during the bust unveiling on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Front row, from left, Tim O'Connor former senior Irish Diplomat and former Secretary General to the President of Ireland, Professor Ian Greer President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast (QUB), Senator George J. Mitchell, former US Representative for Northern Ireland an Chair of the NI All Party Talks with wife Heather MacLachlan, former US President Bill Clinton with his wife former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former Teachta Dala of Ireland Liz O'Donnell, Lord Murphy, Professor Jonathan Powell, former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of the UK, former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland for the PUP Dawn Purvis and Ryan Feeney, Acting Vice-President Strategic Engagement and External Affairs at QUB, back row, from left, Deputy Lieutenant for Belfast Jane Wells, former Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Mark Durkan, former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland for the Women's Coalition Monica McWilliams, Lord Reg Empey, Lord Alderdice, Gary McMichael, leader of the short-lived Ulster Democratic Party, Ian Paisley Jr, and QUB Professor Richard English during a photocall on the steps of the Lanyon Buildings at Queen's University Belfast during an event marking the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. (Liam Mc Burney/PA via AP) From left, Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former US President Bill Clinton, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former senator George Mitchell at the unveiling of a bust of the former senator George Mitchell, a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Liam Mc Burney/PA via AP) Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair speaks at the unveiling of a bust of the former senator George Mitchell, a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP) Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell looks at his bust during the unveiling on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, shakes hands with Bertie Ahern during g a bust unveiling on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Former US President Bill Clinton, left, stands beside Britain's former Prime Minister Tony Blair during a bust unveiling on the first day of a three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, April 17, 2023. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and past leaders of the U.K. and Ireland are gathering in Belfast on Monday, 25 years after their charm, clout and determination helped Northern Ireland strike a historic peace accord. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — An American architect of Northern Ireland’s historic 1998 peace accord on Monday urged its feuding politicians to revive the mothballed Belfast government, as a current political crisis clouded celebration of the peacemaking milestone.
Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell told a conference to mark a quarter century since the Good Friday Agreement that Northern Ireland’s leaders must “act with courage and vision as their predecessors did 25 years ago,” when bitter enemies forged an unlikely peace.
Mitchell, the U.S. special envoy who chaired two arduous years of negotiations that led to the accord, joined ex-President Bill Clinton and political leaders from the U.K., Ireland and Northern Ireland at Queen's University Belfast to mark 25 years since the agreement largely ended three decades of sectarian bloodshed -- a moment, Mitchell said, “when history opened itself to hope.”
“The people of Northern Ireland continue to wrestle with their doubts, their differences, their disagreements,” said Mitchell, who is now 89 and being treated for leukemia. But, he added: “The people of Northern Ireland don’t want to return to violence — not now and not ever.”
“The war is over,” agreed Gerry Adams, former leader of Sinn Fein, the party linked during the conflict to the Irish Republican Army, which killed around 1,800 people. “The conflict’s finished.”
The Good Friday Agreement has been held up around the world as proof that bitter enemies can make peace. It committed armed groups to stop fighting and set up a Northern Ireland legislature and government with power shared between unionist and nationalist parties.
Northern Ireland has changed dramatically since then. A young peacetime generation is increasingly shedding the rival identities — British unionist and Irish nationalist — that erupted into three decades of bloodshed that killed 3,600 people. But at the same time, Northern Ireland is locked in a political crisis that threatens to rattle the peace secured by the Good Friday Agreement. And violence hasn’t disappeared completely. In February, IRA dissidents opposed to the peace process shot and wounded a senior police officer.
“You’ve got a transformed society in which (the labels) unionist, nationalist for many young people doesn’t mean anything,” said Katy Hayward, professor of political sociology at Queen’s University Belfast, the conference venue. “But on the other hand, society is in a state of quite severe disrepair. We haven’t had a functioning Assembly for four out of the last six years, and our public services are crumbling around our ears.”
Increasing numbers of people wonder whether the accord that created peace is still capable of sustaining it. Northern Ireland’s 1.9 million people have been without a functioning government since the main unionist party walked out more than a year ago to protest post-Brexit trade rules that – like so much in Northern Ireland – roiled notions of history and identity.
Participants at the conference — gently or pointedly — urged the Democratic Unionist Party to return to the power-sharing government.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Queen’s University’s chancellor, urged people in Northern Ireland to show the same “unstoppable grit and resolve” that secured the peace deal.
“You have always found a way through, and I believe you will again,” she told delegates.
Sinn Fein’s Adams predicted the political impasse “will be resolved” by the DUP returning to government.
“As ministers they have a mandate to do that,” he told The Associated Press. “We can disagree on all of these other matters, but we should do it on the basis of the political and institutional office that we are entitled to on behalf of the people who elected us.”
The three-day conference caps commemorations of the April 10, 1998, peace accord that included a flying visit last week by President Joe Biden, on his way to explore his Irish roots in the neighboring Republic of Ireland. During speeches in Belfast and Dublin, Biden reminded Northern Ireland’s politicians how strongly the U.S. remains invested in peace.
“I wanted to make clear there’s a lot at stake, a lot at stake,” Biden told reporters as he left Ireland on Friday.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is due to host a gala commemorative dinner in Belfast on Wednesday, hailed “the courage, imagination and perseverance” of the peacemakers.
But critics say the U.K. government has been, at best, careless with Northern Ireland’s peace — especially by leading Britain out of the European Union following a 2016 referendum.
“Brexit was a disaster for the peace process,” said Bertie Ahern, who was Ireland's prime minister during the 1990s peace talks. “It opened up things that were closed.”
Brexit destabilized the delicate political balance in Northern Ireland, by reviving the need for a customs border between the EU and now ex-member the U.K. An open border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland is one of the foundations of peace, so checks were imposed instead on goods moving from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland.
That unsettled unionists, who see the economic barrier as undermining Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. The DUP walked out and has not returned, despite a deal reached by the U.K. and the EU in February to remove many of the border checks.
Increasing numbers of people argue that power-sharing must be tweaked to reflect the growing importance of forces such as the Alliance Party, which defines itself as neither unionist nor nationalist.
DUP lawmaker Ian Paisley Jr. warned that changing the terms of the peace accord risked “unravelling” the whole agreement.
Ahern said that despite the problems, the Good Friday Agreement was “a huge achievement.”
“I think so far, so good, and then we have to just try and -- as George Mitchell said -- do better."
Blair urged Northern Ireland's to do “the right thing.”
“We know the peace isn’t perfect," he said. "We know the institutions have often been rocky and unstable as they are today. We know there’s still a lot of distrust and mistrust between the communities. But we also know that Northern Ireland is a much better place than it was before the Good Friday Agreement."
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