belfasttelegraph

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Architects of the Agreement gather to mark deal

Architects of the Good Friday Agreement were today gathering in Belfast - to again debate and discuss the historic deal.

On the tenth anniversary of the Agreement to the day, some of the leading figures involved were meeting together for the first time in years.

The event was being led by outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former American senator George Mitchell and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Other VIP guests were Mr McGuinness's predecessor, SDLP leader Mark Durkan, ex-Ulster Democratic Party councillor David Adams and former Assembly speaker and now International Monitoring Commission member Lord Alderdice.

They are among 15 luminaries who also include decommissioning body boss General John de Chastelain, former SDLP leader John Hume, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, former Irish Minister Liz O'Donnell, Womens Coalition leader Monica Mc- Williams and Progressive Unionist leader Dawn Purvis.

David, now Lord, Trimble was among the major participants not expected to be present but was being represented by Sir Reg Empey, the Ulster Unionists chief negotiator during the talks which lead to the 1998 Agreement.

Former US president Bill Clinton also pulled out last month as his wife's battle to stay in the race for the White House hotted up.

BBC presenter Noel Thompson was due to act as 'moderator' for the two-hour discussion this afternoon at Blackstaff studios.

Trina Vargo, president of the US-Ireland Alliance organisation, which organised the event, said: "The Taoiseach has been tireless in his efforts to bring lasting peace to Northern Ireland.

"He has also been a great friend of the Mitchell Scholarship programme.

"We welcomed his announcement last year that the Irish Government will provide up to ¤20 million toward permanently endowing this programme that brings future American leaders to the island of Ireland."

Nearly 100 alumni of the George J Mitchell Scholarship programme and their peers, young leaders between the ages of 22 and 35, from Northern Ireland and Ireland are to attend.

A dinner following the event, will include performances by singers Duke Special and Maura O'Connell, as well as a reading by Michael Longley.

Anniversary events were already due to get under way in New York last night at a dinner organised by the Emerald Isle Immigration Centre which Mr Clinton was expected to attend.

Also today, a three-day European Mediation Conference, organised by Mediation Northern Ireland and the Scottish Mediation Network, is due to get under way at the Waterfront Hall.



On Friday, it is due to discuss developments in the practice of mediation across Europe and half-day training workshops on Saturday.

The Republic's Foreign Minister, Dermot Ahern, and former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, who helped with the protracted process of paramilitary decommissioning, are among the speakers.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is to join Mr Ahern at Dublin Castle on Friday night for a dinner organised by the Turn the Tide of Suicide campaign group.

Mr Ahern is due to present Mr Blair with a special peace award marking his involvement in the Agreement, the St Andrews talks and agreement towards the end of 2006.

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