Clinton and Blair invited to mark peace deal anniversary
Tony Blair and Bill Clinton have been invited to an event in the North marking 10 years since the Good Friday Agreement, it was revealed today.
The former British and US leaders are expected to join other architects of the 1998 peace accord, which paved the way for political power-sharing, at a reception in Belfast in April.
The Agreement laid down the principles of political power-sharing – including shared roles in government and cross-community decision-making – and established the political institutions.
It was followed the next year by devolved government at the Assembly at Stormont and fundamental changes to police manpower and accountability.
The Agreement also mandated the early release of paramilitary prisoners and decommissioning of weapons.
Also on April’s anticipated guest list are Senator George Mitchell, who chaired 11-week crisis talks to boost the faltering peace process in 1999, John Hume of the SDLP who helped open communications with Sinn Féin and the Irish Government and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Mr Clinton has been working on his wife Hillary’s White House campaign while Mr Blair has been busy as a Middle East peace envoy since he stood down as British prime minister last summer.
Mr Blair chaired weeks of intense peace negotiations throughout his tenure while the former US President appointed Senator Mitchell and has been a consistent cheerleader for the process.
The US-Ireland Alliance organised the gathering.
President Trina Vargo said she hoped the Rev Ian Paisley’s DUP, who opposed the Belfast agreement, would participate. The DUP is now the largest grouping, sharing power with Sinn Féin since last May.
The head of the body overseeing decommissioning of weapons by paramilitaries, General John de Chastelain, has agreed to attend alongside Ulster Unionist leader Reg Empey, David Andrews and Liz O’Donnell, former Ministers for Foreign Affairs.
Ex-Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy, Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition leader Monica McWilliams, former Stormont Speaker Lord Alderdice, and loyalist representatives Dawn Purvis and Davy Adams will also be present.
The dinner following the event will include performances by musicians Duke Special and Maura O'Connell as well as a reading by poet Michael Longley.
Mr Clinton and Mr Blair have also been invited to a dinner in Dublin to raise money for suicide prevention across Ireland.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of incidents recently, particularly in deprived areas like north and west Belfast and the issue is high on the political agenda.
