III

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 54

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 21, 1999

Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Recognizing the historic significance of the first anniversary

of the Good Friday Peace Agreement.

Whereas Ireland has a long and tragic history of civil conflict

that has left a deep and profound legacy of suffering;

Whereas since 1969 more than 3,200 people have died and

thousands more have been injured as a result of political

violence in Northern Ireland;

Whereas a series of efforts by the Governments of the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom to facilitate peace
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and an announced cessation of hostilities created an historic opportunity for a negotiated peace;

Whereas in June 1996, for the first time since the partition

of Ireland in 1922, representatives elected from political

parties in Northern Ireland pledged to adhere to the

principles of nonviolence and commenced talks regarding

the future of Northern Ireland;

Whereas the 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 critical

to the success of the talks;

Whereas on Good Friday, April 10, 1998, the parties to the

negotiations each made honorable compromises to conclude a peace agreement for Northern Ireland, which has

become known as the Good Friday Peace Agreement;

Whereas on Friday, May 22, 1998, an overwhelming majority

of voters in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of

Ireland approved by referendum the Good Friday Peace

Agreement;

Whereas the United States must remain involved politically

and economically to ensure the long-term success of the

peace agreement; and

Whereas on Good Friday, April 2, 1999, a one-year deadline

passed without agreement among all major parties, putting the entire peace process in jeopardy: Now, therefore,

be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—
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1 (1) recognizes the historic significance of the

2 first anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agree3 ment;

4 (2) salutes British Prime Minister Tony Blair

5 and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the elected

6 representatives of the political parties in Northern

7 Ireland for creating the opportunity for a negotiated

8 peace;

9 (3) commends Senator George Mitchell for his

10 leadership on behalf of the United States in guiding

11 the parties toward peace;

12 (4) congratulates the people of the Republic of

13 Ireland and of Northern Ireland for their courageous

14 commitment to work together in peace;

15 (5) encourages the Governments of the United

16 Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland with the active

17 involvement of the United States to continue to work

18 together to ensure the forward movement of the

19 peace process; and

20 (6) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and co21 operation that exist between the United States and

22 the Governments of the Republic of Ireland and the

23 United Kingdom, which ensure that the United
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1 States and those Governments will continue as part2 ners in peace.

Passed the House of Representatives April 20, 1999.

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.