OMAGH PEOPLE PRAISED FOR OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE
Omagh people praised for 'outstanding example'
NOBEL Peace Laureate, Mr. John Hume, received a standing ovation at the Omagh International Summer School on Monday, for a speech which focused on conflict resolution.
Addressing more than 200 delegates, the SDLP leader and MEP, Mr. Hume, praised the people of Omagh for their "outstanding example" in response to last year's atrocity.
Mr. Hume said the philosophy of conflict resolution, which came into being in Europe after the Second World War, applied today in relation to the Good Friday Agreement.
"A new Europe has evolved and is still evolving, and that is the lesson we have to learn in this small island. Please God we will do that soon," he said.
Later, he said: "There is absolutely no doubt that the people of Omagh have given an outstanding example, particularly given the terrible tragedy that they went through.
"They want to leave the terrible conflict of our past behind, and the terrible price that the people of Northern Ireland have paid for that conflict."
Mr. Hume said the way to do that was to put into practice the principles of peace that went to the heart of the Good Friday Agreement, beginning with respecting differences.
"Difference is an accident of birth, whether it is race, religion or nationality. It should never be the source of hatred or conflict, it should be the source of respect," he said.
He said the second principle of peace was to create institutions that respected differences.
"One of those institutions is the Assembly, with all the representatives of the people. It is our duty to implement our second main institution now the executive," he said.
"We can then move to the third principle of peace, which is the most important that we start working together in our common interest, build trust and break down the barriers of mistrust.
"In so doing, we will harness the massive international goodwill and translate it into real economic benefits for all sections in the community.
NOBEL Peace Laureate, Mr. John Hume, received a standing ovation at the Omagh International Summer School on Monday, for a speech which focused on conflict resolution.
Addressing more than 200 delegates, the SDLP leader and MEP, Mr. Hume, praised the people of Omagh for their "outstanding example" in response to last year's atrocity.
Mr. Hume said the philosophy of conflict resolution, which came into being in Europe after the Second World War, applied today in relation to the Good Friday Agreement.
"A new Europe has evolved and is still evolving, and that is the lesson we have to learn in this small island. Please God we will do that soon," he said.
Later, he said: "There is absolutely no doubt that the people of Omagh have given an outstanding example, particularly given the terrible tragedy that they went through.
"They want to leave the terrible conflict of our past behind, and the terrible price that the people of Northern Ireland have paid for that conflict."
Mr. Hume said the way to do that was to put into practice the principles of peace that went to the heart of the Good Friday Agreement, beginning with respecting differences.
"Difference is an accident of birth, whether it is race, religion or nationality. It should never be the source of hatred or conflict, it should be the source of respect," he said.
He said the second principle of peace was to create institutions that respected differences.
"One of those institutions is the Assembly, with all the representatives of the people. It is our duty to implement our second main institution now the executive," he said.
"We can then move to the third principle of peace, which is the most important that we start working together in our common interest, build trust and break down the barriers of mistrust.
"In so doing, we will harness the massive international goodwill and translate it into real economic benefits for all sections in the community.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1386
Published Date: 26-Aug-99
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.