Statement by the President on Northern Ireland

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Northern Ireland: Ulster Unionist Council Vote

I am delighted that, with today's historic developments, the Northern Ireland peace process is back on track. I congratulate David Trimble and the Ulster Unionist Council on their decision to return to self-government in Northern Ireland. This is a giant step toward fulfillment of the historic promise of the Good Friday Accord: to provide self-government to all the people, on the basis of equality, consent and the use of exclusively peaceful means. The parties are now ready to reenter the Executive and Legislative Assembly in the coming days. It is now possible for the politics of conflict to be transformed into the politics of consensus. I applaud the leadership of Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern and all the parties. The wind is back in the sails of peace in Northern Ireland.

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