UN General Assembly
2001

of all the ethnic groups which make up the country. This must be accompanied by a comprehensive and generous programme of support for the post-military 28 rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan. The international community must stay engaged once a representative Government is established there. In Ireland, we continue to make steady progress with our own peace process. As representatives will be aware, the British and Irish Governments and the political parties in Northern Ireland successfully negotiated a comprehensive peace settlement over three years ago, known as the Good Friday Agreement. Since then, we have worked hard to secure the full implementation of this Agreement. Two of the most difficult and sensitive issues we have had to face were the putting of paramilitary weapons beyond use and the putting in place of a new beginning to policing. I am very pleased to be able to inform the Assembly that very considerable progress has recently been made on both these crucial issues. As a result, the way is now clear for a sustained, committed and enthusiastic implementation of all