WORLD SHARES IN ULSTER'S HOPES
World shares in Ulster's hopes
By JULIE O'CONNOR in Oslo
Trimble and Hume say joint honour is for all the people
FIRST Minister David Trimble and SDLP leader John Hume yesterday received the Nobel Peace Prize in honour of their tireless, determined and continuing search for peace in Northern Ireland.
The venue where the ceremony took place held special significance for the day because it was from Oslo City Hall that the Nazis ruled Norway during the Second World War.
But yesterday it was a symbol of hope for peace-loving people throughout the world.
After John Hume received the award he immediately labelled it "the people's prize" and said it was their determination that had made the process work.
Mr Hume, 61, the former trainee priest and grammar school teacher and David Trimble, 54, the ex-law lecturer, said they were honoured to have received the prize.
And both were adamant the prize was for the people of Northern Ireland and not themselves.
The two men were presented with their diplomas and medals by Professor Francis Sejersted, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
After they received their medals, the 2,000-strong audience applauded approvingly.
In his 25-minute lecture to the gathered guests in City Hall, the SDLP leader said: "We owe this peace to the ordinary people of Northern Ireland, particularly those of the North who have lived and suffered the reality of our conflict.
"This is their prize - the people's prize."
First Minister David Trimble also said he felt humbled by the award and added it seemed unjust for only two people to receive it.
He said: "In Northern Ireland I could name scores of people, unionist and nationalist, who deserve this prize as well.
"Add to that the thousands of people who I do not know, but who have borne witness in their own lives by carrying out what Wordsworth called, 'those little nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love'."
Both men also spoke about their hope for the future with John Hume pleading with the people of Northern Ireland to try to put the Troubles behind them and let the healing process follow the peace process.
He said: "We are destined by history to live side by side.
"I want to see Ireland as an to men and women everywhere of what can be achieved by living for ideals rather than fighting or dying for them and by viewing each and every person as worthy of respect and honour."
But Mr Trimble, while being optimistic for the future, used the world platform to send out a pointed message to Sinn Fein.
He said: "I have not pressed the paramilitaries on the details of decommissioning. Although I am under pressure from my own political community I have not insisted on precise details, quantities and manner of decommissioning.
"All I have asked for is a credible beginning. All I have asked for is that they say that the war is over. And that is proved by such a beginning.
"That is not too much to ask for. Nor is it too much to ask that the reformist party of nationalism, the SDLP, support me in this.
"But common sense dictates that I cannot forever convince society that real peace is at hand if there is not a beginning to the decommissioning of weapons as an earnest of the decommissioning of hearts that must follow.
"Any further delay will reinforce dark doubts about whether Sinn Fein are drinking from the clear stream of democracy, or still drinking from the dark stream of fascism.
"It cannot forever face both ways.
"Plenty of space has been given to the paramilitaries. Now, winter is here, and there is still no sign of spring."
But Mr Trimble also spoke of his hope for the future and said he thanked God that Northern Ireland stopped short of the abyss that engulfed Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia and Rwanda.
He added: "There are two traditions in Northern Ireland. There are two main religious denominations. But there is only one moral denomination and it wants peace.
"The Agreement showed that the people of Northern Ireland are no petty people.
"They did good work that day. And tomorrow is now another day."
But relations at times seemed strained between Mr Trimble and Mr Hume.
After the ceremony in the City Hall, barely a word was exchanged between the two as they socialised in the Grand Hotel.
But they were later due to meet up at a glittering post-prize party being held by Waterford Crystal where they were to be presented with peace doves, specially designed for the occasion.
By JULIE O'CONNOR in Oslo
Trimble and Hume say joint honour is for all the people
FIRST Minister David Trimble and SDLP leader John Hume yesterday received the Nobel Peace Prize in honour of their tireless, determined and continuing search for peace in Northern Ireland.
The venue where the ceremony took place held special significance for the day because it was from Oslo City Hall that the Nazis ruled Norway during the Second World War.
But yesterday it was a symbol of hope for peace-loving people throughout the world.
After John Hume received the award he immediately labelled it "the people's prize" and said it was their determination that had made the process work.
Mr Hume, 61, the former trainee priest and grammar school teacher and David Trimble, 54, the ex-law lecturer, said they were honoured to have received the prize.
And both were adamant the prize was for the people of Northern Ireland and not themselves.
The two men were presented with their diplomas and medals by Professor Francis Sejersted, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
After they received their medals, the 2,000-strong audience applauded approvingly.
In his 25-minute lecture to the gathered guests in City Hall, the SDLP leader said: "We owe this peace to the ordinary people of Northern Ireland, particularly those of the North who have lived and suffered the reality of our conflict.
"This is their prize - the people's prize."
First Minister David Trimble also said he felt humbled by the award and added it seemed unjust for only two people to receive it.
He said: "In Northern Ireland I could name scores of people, unionist and nationalist, who deserve this prize as well.
"Add to that the thousands of people who I do not know, but who have borne witness in their own lives by carrying out what Wordsworth called, 'those little nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love'."
Both men also spoke about their hope for the future with John Hume pleading with the people of Northern Ireland to try to put the Troubles behind them and let the healing process follow the peace process.
He said: "We are destined by history to live side by side.
"I want to see Ireland as an to men and women everywhere of what can be achieved by living for ideals rather than fighting or dying for them and by viewing each and every person as worthy of respect and honour."
But Mr Trimble, while being optimistic for the future, used the world platform to send out a pointed message to Sinn Fein.
He said: "I have not pressed the paramilitaries on the details of decommissioning. Although I am under pressure from my own political community I have not insisted on precise details, quantities and manner of decommissioning.
"All I have asked for is a credible beginning. All I have asked for is that they say that the war is over. And that is proved by such a beginning.
"That is not too much to ask for. Nor is it too much to ask that the reformist party of nationalism, the SDLP, support me in this.
"But common sense dictates that I cannot forever convince society that real peace is at hand if there is not a beginning to the decommissioning of weapons as an earnest of the decommissioning of hearts that must follow.
"Any further delay will reinforce dark doubts about whether Sinn Fein are drinking from the clear stream of democracy, or still drinking from the dark stream of fascism.
"It cannot forever face both ways.
"Plenty of space has been given to the paramilitaries. Now, winter is here, and there is still no sign of spring."
But Mr Trimble also spoke of his hope for the future and said he thanked God that Northern Ireland stopped short of the abyss that engulfed Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia and Rwanda.
He added: "There are two traditions in Northern Ireland. There are two main religious denominations. But there is only one moral denomination and it wants peace.
"The Agreement showed that the people of Northern Ireland are no petty people.
"They did good work that day. And tomorrow is now another day."
But relations at times seemed strained between Mr Trimble and Mr Hume.
After the ceremony in the City Hall, barely a word was exchanged between the two as they socialised in the Grand Hotel.
But they were later due to meet up at a glittering post-prize party being held by Waterford Crystal where they were to be presented with peace doves, specially designed for the occasion.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/147
Published Date: 11-Dec-98
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