US politicians urge Blair to implement Agreement
Five United States Congress members have written to the British Prime
Minister Tony Blair urging him to implement the Good Friday Agreement
before the political vacuum is filled by those who want to destroy the
peace process. A copy was also sent to President Clinton.
Ben Gilman, Richard Neal, Peter King and Joseph Crowley are members of the
US Congress's Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs while James Walsh is
Chairperson of the Friends of Ireland.
In the letter, the Congress members told Blair: ``We are once again
approaching a critical stage in the Northern Ireland Peace Process. All of
us greatly appreciate the substantial time and effort you have given in an
effort to resolve the difficult arms decommissioning issue, which has long
been a critical roadblock to progress.
``The Good Friday accord is the best road map to resolving the arms
impasse. However the issue has once again created a grave political vacuum
in the North, which many of us fear can too readily be filled by the
anti-Agreement forces. There are some who would want to go backward, not
forward, in finding lasting peace and justice in Northern Ireland.
``Accordingly, we respectfully urge that you redouble your efforts in this
critical period, to fully implement the terms of the Good Friday accord's
power sharing arrangement in creating a new cabinet level executive now, as
envisioned by this Agreement and fully endorsed by the Irish people. Any
effort to rewrite the Good Friday accord will only lead to more delays and
an even greater loss of confidence on all sides in the political process.
``In addition, we urge that all involved work to reach a fair and
reasonable agreement on the Drumcree Orange Order march this year before it
is too late and this becomes a divisve event, igniting the flames of hatred
and violence in Northern Ireland.
``We stand ready to be of assistance and to provide support in any way we
can to make our common goal of lasting peace and justice in Northern
Ireland a reality.''
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