[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16423]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 THE PEACE PROCESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I rise to express my deep disappointment 
by the failure of the parties to move forward with the peace process in 
Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Peace Agreement was endorsed by the 
overwhelming majority of the people of Northern Ireland, and it offers 
the only realistic hope for lasting peace for the two communities. We 
cannot let it fail.
  It is hard to understand why this moment was not seized. The Good 
Friday Peace Agreement is the only way forward--the only way to bring 
the two communities closer together to build a better future for the 
people of Northern Ireland.
  Decommissioning was not a precondition for the formation of the 
Executive, but it should take place along with other provisions of the 
agreement. The Way Forward proposal outlined a clear timetable for 
addressing the issue. It required clear progress on decommissioning in 
the coming weeks. General De Chastelain would review progress on 
decommissioning in September, in December, and again in May 2000. He 
would need to say publicly that everyone is cooperating. Without 
significant progress, the Executive would be disbanded.
  It is tragic that the opportunity to form the Executive was missed.
  The Agreement is the mandate of the people, and must be implemented. 
It offers the Unionists their key demands--their constitutional 
position, the principle of consent, an end to violence.
  I would hope that once out of the marching season and after a period 
of reflection and the review by the governments and parties of the 
working of the agreement--not a review of the agreement itself--that 
wiser counsels will prevail in September.
  I share the frustration expressed by President Clinton that a 
breakthrough of this potential is being stalled by a dispute on 
sequencing, which should weigh very little compared to the historic 
agreement on areas of substance reached in the negotiations.
  I applaud the determination of the two Prime Ministers and President 
Clinton to persist in their efforts, with the support of Senator 
Mitchell, to overcome this last hurdle.
  Despite this latest impasse, all who care about peace must redouble 
their efforts to find a solution. We must focus our energy on 
increasing the political dialogue and securing full implementation of 
the agreement.
  A way must be found to build trust between the two communities of 
Northern Ireland. It is clearly the will of the people of Northern 
Ireland.
  The Governments of Ireland and Great Britain and the United States 
must continue to work together to revitalize the peace process. We 
cannot let it fail.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

                          ____________________