[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2482-S2483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REMARKS OF SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL ON THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE 
                                PROCESS

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise today to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues the moving remarks of our former Majority 
Leader, the Honorable George J. Mitchell, which he delivered at the 
American-Ireland Fund Dinner on March 13, 1997. Senator Mitchell spoke 
about the peace process in Northern Ireland and his own efforts to 
facilitate reconciliation in that troubled land.
  I commend Senator Mitchell's remarks to all Senators, and I ask that 
the text be printed in the Record.
  The text follows:

 Excerpts from remarks by Senator George J. Mitchell, American-Ireland 
              Fund Dinner, Washington, DC, March 13, 1997

       I'm grateful for this award. The American-Ireland Fund is 
     an important force for good in Ireland. I commend you for 
     your efforts and I encourage you to continue them.
       As you know, I've spent most of the past two years in 
     Northern Ireland. On my trips back to the U.S., I've been 
     asked two questions, over and over again, by Americans who 
     care about Ireland: Why are you doing this? And, What can I 
     do to help?
       Tonight, I'll try to answer both of those questions.
       Why am I doing this?
       I've asked myself that question many times. To answer it, I 
     must go back nearly 20 years, before I'd ever been to 
     Ireland, before I'd ever thought seriously about Northern 
     Ireland.
       Before I entered the United States Senate I had the 
     privilege of serving as a Federal Judge. In that position I 
     had great power. The power I most enjoyed exercising was when 
     I presided over what are called naturalization ceremonies. 
     They're citizenship ceremonies. A group of people who'd come 
     from every part of the world, who'd gone through all the 
     required procedures, gathered before me in a federal 
     courtroom. There I administered to them the oath of 
     allegiance to the United States and, by the power vested in 
     me under our constitution and laws I made them Americans.
       It was always emotional for me, because my mother was an 
     immigrant from Lebanon, my father the orphan son of 
     immigrants from Ireland. They had no education and they 
     worked hard all their lives at difficult and low-paying jobs. 
     But because of their efforts, and, more importantly, because 
     of the openness of American society, I, their son, was able 
     to become the majority leader of the United States Senate.
       After every naturalization ceremony, I spoke personally 
     with each new American, individually or in family groups. I 
     asked them where they came from, how they came, why they 
     came. Their stories were as different as their countries of 
     origin. But they were all inspiring, and through them ran a 
     common theme, best expressed by a young Asian. When I asked 
     why he had come, he replied, in slow and halting English, ``I 
     came because here in America everybody has a chance''.
       A young man who'd been an American for just a few minutes 
     summed up the meaning of our country in a single sentence. 
     Here, everybody has a chance.
       I was one of those who had a chance, and I thank God for my 
     good fortune. Now, by an accident of fate, in a way that I 
     did not seek or expect, I have been given the opportunity to 
     help others to have a chance. That they are in Ireland, the 
     land of my father's heritage, is just a fortuitous 
     coincidence. That I am able to help, even if in just a small 
     way, is what matters.
       No one can really have a chance in a society dominated by 
     fear and violence. And so I, who have been helped by so many, 
     now must do what I can to help others to try to end the 
     violence, to banish the fear, to hasten the day when all the 
     people of Northern Ireland can lead lives of peace, 
     reconciliation and opportunity.
       Let me say, as clearly and as emphatically as I can: There 
     will be peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. I don't 
     know exactly when it will come. But I am convinced that it is 
     inevitable, for one over-riding reason: It is the will of the 
     overwhelming majority of the people of Northern Ireland.
       They remain divided along sectarian lines, and they 
     mistrust each other. But they share a fervent desire not to 
     return to the violence which for so long has filled their 
     lives with fear and anxiety.
       It will take a very long time for the mistrust to end. But 
     it need not take a long time for the violence to end. Once it 
     does, once people can live free of fear, then gradually the 
     walls of division will come down. Walls that exist on the 
     ground, and in people's minds, will come down, brick by 
     brick, person by person, slowly but inevitably.
       Over the past two years I've come to know the people of 
     Northern Ireland. They're energetic, Intelligent and 
     productive. I admire and like them. They deserve better than 
     the troubles they have. But there is only one way to achieve 
     that better life.
       There is no alternative to democratic, meaningful, 
     inclusive dialogue. For that to come about, there must be an 
     end to violence and to intransigence. They are the twin 
     demons of Northern Ireland--violence and intransigence. They 
     feed off each other in a deadly ritual in which most of the 
     victims are innocent.
       There are those who don't want anything to change, ever. 
     They want to recreate a past that can never be recreated. But 
     their way will only guarantee never-ending conflict. It will 
     insure that the next half century is as full of death and 
     fear as was the past half century.
       The people of Northern Ireland must make it clear to their 
     leaders that they oppose intransigence, that they want 
     meaningful negotiation. Not capitulation; not the surrender 
     of conviction. But good-faith negotiation that places the 
     interest of the people, the interest of peace, above personal 
     or political considerations. Good faith negotiation can 
     produce an agreed settlement that will command the support of 
     the majority in Northern Ireland, including the majority in 
     each

[[Page S2483]]

     community. I know in my heart that it can be done.
       With an end to intransigence must come a total and final 
     repudiation of violence. There is no justification for 
     violence, or the threat of violence. To those of you who ask; 
     what can I do? Here is my answer: You, the leaders of the 
     Irish-American community, must say that you condemn violence, 
     that you demand its end, that you will not support those who 
     engage in or support or condone violence. You must say it 
     publicly, you must say it loudly, you must say it forcefully. 
     And you must say it over and over again.
       Violence is wrong. It is counter productive. It deepens 
     divisions. It increases hatred. It hurts innocent people. It 
     makes peace and reconciliation more difficult to attain. It 
     must end.
       Let me be clear on one more point. They may be twin demons 
     but there is no moral equivalence between intransigence and 
     violence. They are both wrong. But as bad as intransigence 
     is, violence is worse. Intransigence takes away people's 
     hopes. Violence takes away their lives.
       There exists an historic opportunity to end centuries of 
     conflict in Northern Ireland. If it is not seized now, it may 
     be years before it returns, and the failure could cost many 
     their lives.
       Peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland is a worthy 
     cause. It deserves your attention and support. You can make a 
     difference. What you say is heard, what you do matters.
       As you leave tonight, ask yourself this question: Wouldn't 
     it be a wonderful thing if, on St. Patrick's day next year, 
     rather than praying for peace and reconciliation in Northern 
     Ireland, we were celebrating its existence?
       If you agree, then beginning tomorrow, do all you can to 
     make it happen. When you do, you will reap the greatest of 
     all rewards: You will have earned the title of peacemaker.

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