IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 367
Urging that elections, pursuant to the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, 
be held in Northern Ireland in 2003 and reaffirming support for the 
continued implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as the frame-
work for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Northern Ireland. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2003
Mr. BEREUTER (for himself, Mr. HYDE, Mr. WEXLER, and Mr. WALSH) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
International Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Urging that elections, pursuant to the terms of the Good 
Friday Agreement, be held in Northern Ireland in 2003 
and reaffirming support for the continued implementa-
tion of the Good Friday Agreement as the framework 
for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Northern 
Ireland.
Whereas the Good Friday Agreement reached by the Govern-
ment of Ireland, the Government of the United Kingdom, 
and political party leaders of Northern Ireland, on April 
10, 1998, provided for the devolution of government from 
the United Kingdom to local institutions in Northern Ire-
land, created the Northern Ireland Assembly and Execu-
tive Committee and provided for a democratically elected
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Assembly in Northern Ireland which is inclusive in its 
membership, capable of exercising executive and legisla-
tive authority, and subject to safeguards to protect the 
rights and interests of all sides of the community; 
Whereas the Good Friday Agreement established a North/
South Ministerial Council, established an independent 
Commission on Policing to reorganize current policing 
practices and to encourage widespread community sup-
port for new policing arrangements, established an Inde-
pendent Commission on Decommissioning to facilitate the 
process of permanently removing from use paramilitary 
arms, and outlined other provisions regarding human 
rights and the treatment of prisoners; 
Whereas in a referendum on May 22, 1998, the people of 
both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland voted 
overwhelmingly in favor of the Good Friday Agreement; 
Whereas on April 10, 2003, the 5th Anniversary of the Good 
Friday Agreement which had established a framework for 
the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Northern Ire-
land had come and gone without a continuing and oper-
ating local power sharing government under the Good 
Friday Agreement; 
Whereas in October 2002, the devolved institutions of the Ex-
ecutive Assembly and Executive Committee were sus-
pended amid allegations which created a lack of trust 
among the parties; 
Whereas critical elections for Northern Ireland’s Assembly 
have been postponed twice due to a stalemate over the re-
jection of military attacks, training, targeting, intel-
ligence-gathering, acquisition of arms or weapons, other 
preparations for terrorist-related activities, punishment
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beatings and involvement in riots, by paramilitary ele-
ments in Northern Ireland; 
Whereas other provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, 
such as demilitarization, should also continue to move 
forward; 
Whereas the British and Irish Governments, supported by the 
United States Government, have developed an additional 
package of proposals which would help ensure the further 
implementation of the Good Friday Agreement; 
Whereas despite several, but not insurmountable, difficulties 
identified by the parties in the implementation of the 
Good Friday Agreement, the citizens of Northern Ireland 
continue to indicate support for ongoing efforts at polic-
ing reform and decommissioning and for candidates rep-
resenting the parties which supported the Good Friday 
Agreement and the peace process; and 
Whereas the United States should remain politically involved 
to ensure the long-term success of the peace agreement: 
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes the continued importance of the 
Good Friday Agreement and urges all parties to the 
Agreement to work more diligently for the full im-
plementation of all its provisions; 
(2) urges all parties to the Agreement to create 
the conditions necessary to hold the important elec-
tions for the Assembly before the end of 2003, to 
abide by the outcome of the elections and to agree
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to have the devolved government back in operation 
as soon as practical; 
(3) urges the people of Northern Ireland to con-
tinue to demonstrate their faith in and continued 
support for the peace process, the Good Friday 
Agreement, and to urge all political parties and can-
didates to fully support the Agreement; 
(4) supports the Prime Minister of the United 
Kingdom, the Irish Taoiseach, and all the leaders of 
the political parties in Northern Ireland who created 
the opportunity for a negotiated peace but now 
urges them to put aside past differences and dis-
putes and to proceed in a meaningful way to actually 
implement those agreements which they endorsed; 
(5) encourages those parties to the Good Friday 
Agreement which have not appointed members to 
the policing Board to do so in a timely fashion in 
order to ensure that the police service continues to 
gain the support of all Northern Ireland and which 
will ensure that the police service will reflect both 
communities they serve, will be fair, accountable, 
free from political control and committed to human 
rights; 
(6) stresses the importance of completing the 
decommissioning of weapons held by paramilitary or-
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ganizations on all sides and to follow recent decom-
missioning successes with additional efforts by 
paramilitaries on both the loyalist and republican 
sides; and 
(7) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and co-
operation that exist between the United States and 
the Governments of the United Kingdom and Ire-
land, our continued strong support for the Good Fri-
day Agreement, and our support for the political 
parties who are seeking the establishment of a 
strong and lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
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