U.S President, Joe Biden has disclosed that a bright future for Northern Ireland is “just beginning.” He made this statement in his speech at the Ulster University in Belfast.
Biden is on a presidential visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak welcomed Biden to Belfast last night. Biden’s schedule on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, began over tea with Sunak before the Ulster University event.
Biden pledged enduring American support as he marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement; the U.S.-brokered deal brought peace to this part of the United Kingdom.
U.S. involvement was key to negotiating the Good Friday accord, which largely ended decades of sectarian violence that killed 3,600 people. Biden lauded people who were willing to “risk boldly for the future” by reaching the agreement, reminding the audience that “peace was not inevitable.”
“It’s up to us to keep this going,” Biden said in his speech.
Also, Biden stressed that American investment can help fuel economic growth, especially if the fractious politicians in Belfast resolve a stalemate that has put their government on pause.
“Your history is our history and even more important, your future is America’s future.”
Joe Biden
Biden’s speech navigated Northern Ireland’s complex political currents, referring to his British as well as Irish ancestry, and noting the contribution to the U.S. of largely Protestant Ulster Scots as well as Irish Catholics like his own forebears.
Biden said that he hoped the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive “will soon be restored”, but added, “that’s a decision for you to make.”
Northern Ireland is currently without a functioning government. Stormont, the seat of its assembly, has been suspended since the Democratic Unionist Party, which formed half of a power-sharing government, walked out a year ago over a post-Brexit trade dispute.
Also, the U.S President spoke about the recent attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector, John Caldwell in Omagh and said levels of violence witnessed during the Troubles must not be allowed to return.
In his closing remarks, Biden averred that “compassion” is the real power of the Good Friday Agreement, adding that Northern Ireland was “transformed” and “made whole” by peace.
Biden promised that the U.S will continue to be Northern Ireland’s partner in “building the future that the young people of our world deserve”. “It matters to us, to Americans, and to me personally,” he iterated.
Biden stressed that 25 “extraordinary years” should be celebrated by recommitting to renewal and repair and by making peace the birth right of “every child of Northern Ireland for all the days to come”. He left Belfast to Ireland’s capital, Dublin after his speech.
Message Of Hope And Opportunity
President Joe Biden met the leaders of Northern Ireland’s five main political parties. Speaking after meeting with Biden, Sinn Féin’s Deputy Leader, Michelle O’Neill opined that the message from the U.S leader was “one of hope and opportunity”.
“It’s very future focused, the fact that so many young people were here (at Ulster University) and he was speaking directly to them, and to all political leaders as well I suppose,” Michelle O’Neill said.
O’Neill divulged that she would have liked to have greeted Biden at the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, which is currently in shutdown , but will instead “grab with both hands” the opportunities presented by the U.S leader’s visit.
Biden used his speech to urge a return to power-sharing in the Northern Ireland Assembly, something O’Neill describes as a “a clear message to the DUP”.
The DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) is currently boycotting the power-sharing government.
Meanwhile, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said that he had a “very brief” discussion with Biden. The U.S President “made it clear that he’s not here to interfere.” Donaldson added.
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