NORTHERN IRELAND CAN SET EXAMPLE
Northern Ireland can set example
By Jonathan Turner
NORTHERN Ireland's struggle to bring peace after years of violence set an example for the rest of the world, Bill Clinton said last night.
Speaking at the Mall in Armagh, the president said that when he visited areas of conflict across the globe, he told them: "Look at Northern Ireland."
The US president said it was a message he had passed on time and time again, in the Middle East, the Balkans and in India.
"I am tempted in this city of saints and cathedrals to say that this peace in 1998 is a miracle," he said.
"But the peace of Good Friday was not a miracle.
"You did it yourselves. It rose from the public's passionate demand to take a different course.
"It came about from the hard work of leaders like those who are on this stage.
"It came from honest debate and again it came loud and clear from the overwhelming vote of the people for peace."
Mr Clinton urged Ireland's political leaders not to be distracted from their goal of peace, no matter what happens.
"The question is not if the peace will be challenged you know it will.
"The question is how will you respond when it is challenged?"
Mr Clinton said that the message from the victims of the Omagh bomb who he had met yesterday was to tell the men of violence: "We are through with hate, through with war, through with destruction."
To applause he added: "It will not work anymore."
By Jonathan Turner
NORTHERN Ireland's struggle to bring peace after years of violence set an example for the rest of the world, Bill Clinton said last night.
Speaking at the Mall in Armagh, the president said that when he visited areas of conflict across the globe, he told them: "Look at Northern Ireland."
The US president said it was a message he had passed on time and time again, in the Middle East, the Balkans and in India.
"I am tempted in this city of saints and cathedrals to say that this peace in 1998 is a miracle," he said.
"But the peace of Good Friday was not a miracle.
"You did it yourselves. It rose from the public's passionate demand to take a different course.
"It came about from the hard work of leaders like those who are on this stage.
"It came from honest debate and again it came loud and clear from the overwhelming vote of the people for peace."
Mr Clinton urged Ireland's political leaders not to be distracted from their goal of peace, no matter what happens.
"The question is not if the peace will be challenged you know it will.
"The question is how will you respond when it is challenged?"
Mr Clinton said that the message from the victims of the Omagh bomb who he had met yesterday was to tell the men of violence: "We are through with hate, through with war, through with destruction."
To applause he added: "It will not work anymore."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0361
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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