For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 29, 2003
Statement on Northern Ireland Elections
Statement by the Press Secretary
October 29, 2003
Northern Ireland Elections
The United States welcomes the decision of the British Government
to hold elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly on November 26. We
commend Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern for their
concerted, sustained efforts to work with the political parties in
Northern Ireland to ensure a lasting peace. The United States shares
the commitment of both the British and Irish Governments to the full
implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
The United States also welcomes the constructive pledge by
Republicans to bring the conflict to a full and final closure, and the
announcement by the Independent International Commission on
Decommissioning (IICD) that it witnessed a third and substantial act of
decommissioning by the IRA. Once again, the IICD's General John de
Chastelain and Andrew Sens deserve our thanks for their important
contribution to the process of normalizing political life in Northern
Ireland.
Political progress does not take place in a vacuum. It is worth
noting that this year Northern Ireland enjoyed its calmest summer in
three decades. This is a tribute to citizens from all walks of life
and to their political representatives. Credit also belongs to civic
leaders, and to Hugh Orde and the new Police Service of Northern
Ireland, along with its oversight and governing institutions.
Once the Assembly is formed, the United States calls on all parties
to work to restore devolved governmental institutions and to make these
institutions work to the benefit of all the people of Northern
Ireland. We also call on all parties to work rapidly toward the day
when all paramilitary activities in Northern Ireland come to a complete
end in a manner that instills confidence among all parties, so that
political life in Northern Ireland can be truly described as normal.
The United States will continue to lend its good offices toward
these ends and do all it can to advance the peace process in Northern
Ireland.
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