III

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 90

To acknowledge the Historic Northern Ireland Peace Agreement.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 23, 1998

Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. MOYNIHAN, Mr. DASCHLE, Mr.

LEAHY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. KERRY, Mr. MACK, Mr. D’AMATO, Mr.

REED, Mr. KERREY, and Mr. WELLSTONE) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to

CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

To acknowledge the Historic Northern Ireland Peace

Agreement.

Whereas the people of Ireland have experienced civil conflict

throughout their history with the latest phase, known as

The Troubles, ongoing for the last thirty years;

Whereas this tragic history has cost the lives of thousands of

men, women, and children, and has left a deep and profound legacy of suffering;

Whereas the governments of the Republic of Ireland and the

United Kingdom have endeavored for many years to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Northern

Ireland; and such efforts, including the 1985 Anglo-Irish

Agreement, the 1993 Joint Declaration, and the 1995
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SCON 90 ATS

New Framework for Agreement, were important milestones in guiding the parties toward a political agreement;

Whereas the announced cessation of armed hostilities in 1994

by the Irish Republican Army and the Combined Loyalist

Military Command created the opportunity for all-inclusive political discussions to occur;

Whereas representatives from Northern Ireland’s political

parties, pledging to adhere to the principles of non-violence, commenced all-party talks in June 1996, and those

talks greatly intensified in the Spring of 1998 under the

chairmanship of former United States Senator George

Mitchell;

Whereas the active participation of British Prime Minister

Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was indispensable to the success of negotiations;

Whereas the support and encouragement for the Northern

Ireland peace process by President Clinton, on behalf of

the United States, was also an important factor in the

success of the negotiations;

Whereas on April 10, 1998, the political parties, together

with the British and Irish Governments successfully concluded the Northern Ireland Peace Agreement;

Whereas people throughout the island will have an opportunity to approve or reject the final agreement during the

May 22 referendums; and

Whereas the British and Irish Governments have committed

to making the necessary constitutional and other legal

changes necessary to bring the agreement into effect

after the referendum approval processes have been concluded: Now, therefore, be it
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SCON 90 ATS

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

(1) all of the participants in the negotiations deserve congratulations for their willingness to make honorable compromises in order to reach an agreement that

promises to end the tragic cycle of violence that has

dominated Northern Ireland for decades;

(2) Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach

Bertie Ahern deserve particular credit for their leadership and constant encouragement in support of the peace

process;

(3) the American people can be especially proud of

the contributions made by the United States in the quest

for peace, including President Clinton’s vision and determination to achieve peace in Northern Ireland and his

personal commitment to remain an active supporter

throughout the process; and

(4) all friends of Ireland owe a lasting debt of gratitude to Senator George Mitchell for his dedication, courage, leadership, and wisdom in guiding the peace talks

to a successful conclusion.

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