    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [August 1, 2001]
    [Page 938]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Northern Ireland
    August 1, 2001

        This morning I telephoned Prime Ministers Blair and Ahern to state my strong
    support for the package of proposals their Governments released today to
    the political party leaders in Northern Ireland.
        I believe the package is fair and that it charts the way forward in
    areas central to the Good Friday agreement. The package allows the
    people of Northern Ireland to sustain devolved government and establish
    a police service with broad public support. It provides further steps
    for normalizing the security presence in Northern Ireland and assuring
    the stability and integrity of the Good Friday agreement's political
    institutions. The proposals also recognize that a commitment to
    democratic governance and normalized security requires all parties to
    renounce violence and deal decisively with paramilitary weapons.
    Consequently, substantial progress on decommissioning is an essential
    part of today's package.
        In my conversation this morning, I commended the Prime Ministers for their continuing
    leadership on behalf of peace. I reiterated to them that the United
    States stands ready to help in any way that the Governments and the
    parties find useful. I now urge all parties in Northern Ireland to
    reflect carefully on today's proposals and to do everything in their
    power to make permanent the progress of the past 3 years by taking the
    next steps to implement the Good Friday agreement.