    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 22 (Monday, June 5, 2000)]
    [Pages 1243-1244]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on the Ulster Unionist Council Vote in Northern Ireland

    May 27, 2000

        I am delighted that, with today's historic developments, the
    Northern Ireland peace process is back on track. I congratulate David
    Trimble and the Ulster Unionist Council on their decision to return to
    self-government in Northern Ireland. This is a giant step toward
    fulfillment of the historic promise of the Good Friday accord to provide
    self-government to all the people on the basis of equality, consent, and
    the use of exclusively peaceful means. The parties are now ready to
    reenter the Executive and Legislative Assembly in the coming days. It is
    now possible for the politics of conflict to be transformed into the
    politics of consensus. I applaud the leadership of Tony Blair, Bertie
    Ahern, and all the parties. The wind is back in the sails of peace in
    Northern Ireland.

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