FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2006

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi and Friends of Ireland Executive Committee Call for End of Violence in Northern Ireland

Washington, D.C. – On the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and members of the Friends of Ireland Executive Committee, Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME), released the following statement today in celebration of the relationship between Ireland and the United States.  The Committee also calls for progress in the peace process and justice for the murder of Robert McCartney.

“The Friends of Ireland in Congress join 38 million Irish Americans in celebrating the unique ties between America and the island of Ireland.   We welcome the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, to the United States, and we send our warmest greetings to all the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“Irish Americans care deeply about Northern Ireland, and we commend President Bush for his effort to keep the U.S. government involved in the pursuit of peace.

“In 1998, the parties to the Good Friday Agreement committed to ‘partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis’ for moving forward.  We continue to believe that the Good Friday Agreement, with its guarantees of inclusion, is essential to the viability and advancement of the democratic and peace process in Northern Ireland.

“A political system based on inclusive power-sharing requires trust and confidence.  The parties to the Good Friday Agreement also affirmed their ‘total and absolute commitment to exclusively democratic and peaceful means…’  

“All Americans who care deeply about peace and an end to the violence in Northern Ireland welcomed the long-awaited action of decommissioning by the Irish Republican Army last September as an essential step to achieve mutual trust and confidence.  This historic step toward peace should have been embraced by all in the Unionist community and become a new dawn for the peace process, so that the all-important restoration of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement can take place as soon as possible

“We welcome the February 1 finding of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) that the IRA has ‘taken the strategic decision to eschew terrorism and pursue a political path.’

“We regret that the Democratic Unionist Party has refused to state that it is willing to share power with all parties, including Sinn Fein, and has continued to reject the Good Friday Agreement.

“It is essential that the DUP unequivocally agree to share power with all parties, and commit itself to working within all the institutions established by the Agreement.   

“Sinn Fein must also continue to build on the significant progress that has been made   Progress on policing is essential in order to ensure peace and stability in Northern Ireland.  A decision by Sinn Fein to support and join the new policing structures would be a very important step forward.

“We regret that loyalist paramilitary violence remains high, and that, in the words of the IMC, Loyalist groups, which are responsible for a wide range of crime, ‘have not made the strategic choice that the Provisional IRA has made.’  Loyalist paramilitaries must decommission all their weapons.

“All paramilitaries must end criminality and intimidation.

“Justice must also be done in the case of Robert McCartney.

“We commend the Irish and British Governments for their ongoing efforts to work with the political leaders in Northern Ireland to restore the trust and confidence that are essential to advance the peace.

“We urge the British Government to stand firm for the rule of law and promote confidence in its application by –
 

• holding proper public inquiries in all cases recommended by Judge Cory  – including into the murder of Pat Finucane;

• recognizing the success of the work of previous Parades Commissions and continuing with it;

• continuing the process of demilitarization and advancing a human rights and equality agenda.

“On this St. Patrick's Day, we look forward to the day soon when the Good Friday Agreement will be finally and fully implemented, and stable democratic institutions and lasting peace, and justice will be achieved in Northern Ireland.”
 
 
FRIENDS OF IRELAND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi                 Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Senator Christopher J. Dodd                                   Senator Susan M. Collins

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi