After signing a peace agreement that mostly put an end to bloodshed in Northern Ireland a quarter of a century ago, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remarked that more needed to be done to reestablish the power-sharing government that was a key component of the agreement.
The Good Friday Agreement, which was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998, is regarded as one of the most important peace agreements of the late 20th century. It aimed to put an end to three decades of sectarian conflict that claimed more than 3,600 lives.
Nevertheless, since Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, tensions have increased, and this week’s remembrances have been overshadowed by other political concerns.
As a sign of the role the US played in mediating the accord, US President Joseph Biden will go to Northern Ireland on Tuesday to join celebrations commemorating the agreement’s 25th anniversary.
Sunak said in a statement on Monday that “this is an agreement formed of collaboration between the British and Irish governments and, as we will see with President Biden’s visit this week, it continues to have tremendous international backing from our closest friends.”
“But most significantly, it is founded on negotiation inside Northern Ireland. As we go ahead, we will honor individuals who shown courage, tenacity, and political inventiveness by making tough choices, accepting compromises, and exercising leadership.
The largest pro-British party, the Democratic Unionist Party, has boycotted the power-sharing devolved government at the center of the peace agreement for more than a year because it is upset about post-Brexit trade rules that treated the province of Northern Ireland differently from the rest of the United Kingdom.
The danger level in Northern Ireland was raised last month by Britain’s MI5 intelligence agency from domestic terrorism to “severe,” which meant an attack was seen as very possible.
Leo Varadkar, the prime minister of Ireland, promised on Sunday to step his efforts with Sunak to end the province’s political impasse. Sunk said it was a chance to honor those who won the 1998 agreement, look back on the developments since then, and redouble efforts.
In order to guarantee that the institutions were back in operation as quickly as possible, he added, “We stand ready to engage with our colleagues in the Irish government and the local parties.” Work has to be done.