[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 64 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 64

 Recognizing the historic significance of the first anniversary of the 
                      Good Friday Peace Agreement.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 17, 1999

  Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Biden, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. 
   Dodd, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Reid, Mr. 
     Stevens, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. 
Wellstone, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Grams, Mr. 
   Santorum, Mr. Daschle, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Kerrey, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
Dorgan, Mr. Thurmond, Ms. Landrieu, Ms. Collins, Mr. Burns, Mr. McCain, 
Mr. Lott, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Voinovich, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Bingaman, and Mr. 
  Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 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 Good Friday Peace Agreement; and
Whereas April 10, 1999, marks the first anniversary of the Good Friday Peace 
        Agreement: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the historic significance of the first 
        anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement;
            (2) salutes British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish 
        Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the elected representatives of the 
        political parties in Northern Ireland for creating the 
        opportunity for a negotiated peace;
            (3) commends former Senator George Mitchell for his 
        leadership on behalf of the United States in guiding the 
        parties toward peace;
            (4) congratulates the people of the Republic of Ireland and 
        Northern Ireland for their courageous commitment to work 
        together in peace;
            (5) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation that 
        exist between the United States and the Governments of the 
        Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, which ensure that 
        the United States and those Governments will continue as 
        partners in peace; and
            (6) encourages all parties to move forward to implement the 
        Good Friday Peace Agreement.
                                 <all>