[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 17, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2870-S2871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 64--RECOGNIZING THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 
          FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOOD FRIDAY PEACE AGREEMENT

  Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Biden, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. 
Dodd, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Reid, Mr. Stevens, Mrs. Boxer, 
Mr. Lieberman, 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:

                               S. Res. 64

       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;

[[Page S2871]]

       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.

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