NEW PEACE CENTRE FOR PEACE SET UP IN OMAGH
New centre for peace set up in Omagh
By Marie Foy
AFTER suffering one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles, Omagh today became a centre for peace.
New offices for the Special EU Programmes Body , a north-south group, have opened in the town.
Together with staff based in Belfast and Monaghan, Omagh will be responsible for a whole range of European programmes representing an investment of �1.3bn in Northern Ireland and IR�270m in the six border counties in the south. It is hoped the work of the centre will lead to 20 new jobs. Chief Executive of SEUPB, John McKinney said: "We can't all be involved in the political negotiations but we can all play a part to help embed the peace process. "This centre is a major building block on the foundation of our Peace Process."
He added: "All these EU programmes will ultimately support and bolster up the peace process, towards the goal we all want - a society where there's too much to lose for all of us to let this peace process slip through our fingers."
Officially opening the new centre, Finance Minister Mark Durkan said: "The SEUPB is set to make a major contribution to the promotion of peace and socio-ec-nomic development in Northern Ireland and the border region. "It will be given every encouragement by me to promote cross-border co-operation and should reflect the currently fashionable term of 'joined-up government' in that area."
The special focus of the new centre will be the development and strengthening of cross-border links and the increased support for local strategy partnerships.
By Marie Foy
AFTER suffering one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles, Omagh today became a centre for peace.
New offices for the Special EU Programmes Body , a north-south group, have opened in the town.
Together with staff based in Belfast and Monaghan, Omagh will be responsible for a whole range of European programmes representing an investment of �1.3bn in Northern Ireland and IR�270m in the six border counties in the south. It is hoped the work of the centre will lead to 20 new jobs. Chief Executive of SEUPB, John McKinney said: "We can't all be involved in the political negotiations but we can all play a part to help embed the peace process. "This centre is a major building block on the foundation of our Peace Process."
He added: "All these EU programmes will ultimately support and bolster up the peace process, towards the goal we all want - a society where there's too much to lose for all of us to let this peace process slip through our fingers."
Officially opening the new centre, Finance Minister Mark Durkan said: "The SEUPB is set to make a major contribution to the promotion of peace and socio-ec-nomic development in Northern Ireland and the border region. "It will be given every encouragement by me to promote cross-border co-operation and should reflect the currently fashionable term of 'joined-up government' in that area."
The special focus of the new centre will be the development and strengthening of cross-border links and the increased support for local strategy partnerships.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0777
Published Date: 23-May-01
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