British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks on outside Number 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, January 25, 2023.
Toby Melville | Reuters
A quarter of a century since the signing of a peace deal that largely ended violence in Northern Ireland, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said efforts must be stepped up to restore the power-sharing government central to the deal.
Signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998, the Good Friday agreement is considered one of the most important peace agreements of the late 20th Century, aimed at ending three decades of sectarian violence that has killed more than 3,600 people.
But peace has been strained following Britain’s departure from the European Union and other political crises have overshadowed this week’s commemorations.
US President Joe Biden will fly to Northern Ireland on Tuesday to attend events marking the 25th anniversary of the deal, a reflection of the role the United States played in brokering the deal.
“This is an agreement born of the partnership between the British and Irish governments and, as we can see from President Biden’s visit this week, it continues to enjoy great international support from our closest allies,” Sunak said in a statement on Monday.
“But most importantly, it is based on compromise in Northern Ireland itself. As we look forward, we will celebrate those who made difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership – showing courage, tenacity and political imagination.”
Angry at post-Brexit trade policies that treat the province of Northern Ireland differently from the rest of the United Kingdom, the Democratic Unionist Party, the largest pro-British party, boycotted the power-sharing devolved government central to the peace deal to in more. than a year.
Last month, Britain’s MI5 intelligence agency raised the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to “severe” – meaning an attack is considered highly likely.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar pledged on Sunday to step up efforts with Sunak to break the political deadlock in the province. Sunk said it’s time to praise those who got the deal in 1998 and reflect on the progress since then, but also to redouble efforts.
“We are ready to work with our partners in the Irish government and the local parties to ensure that the institutions are running again as soon as possible,” he said. “Something must be done.”