Northern Ireland's main political parties finalized a
long-awaited power-sharing agreement Monday in the region, starting
on May 8.
In a photo-op that political commentators would have never
thought possible, hardline Protestant cleric Ian Paisley, leader of
the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), sat next to Gerry Adams, head
of the mainly Catholic Sinn Fein, to announce the ground-breaking
deal to work together in governing the province.
"Today we've agreed with Sinn Fein that this date will be
Tuesday, May 8, 2007," Paisley said after the meeting at the
Stormont assembly building in Belfast.
"We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and
tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and
more stable future for our children," Paisley said.
Britain and Ireland have attempted to get Northern Ireland's
feuding parties to share power for years, viewing it as a necessary
step in achieving continuing peace in the region of 1.6 million
people that has been split apart by years of strife and
butchery.
Adams added that the people of Ireland had been marred by
centuries of conflict but that "now there is a new start, with the
help of God".
The principal difference between the DUP and Sinn Fein parties
has been in their ultimate desire for Northern Ireland itself. The
Protestant DUP wishes to secure Northern Ireland's links with
Britain while Sinn Fein's aims to build a united Ireland.
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The British government came down heavily on both sides, warning
that they would find a way to jointly govern Northern Ireland's
affairs Monday or accept indefinite direct rule from London.
However, Paisley's DUP said on Saturday it wanted a delay until
May, a condition which proved acceptable to London if all the
parties agreed.
"This is a very important day for the people of Northern Ireland
... In a sense everything we've done in the last 10 years has been
a preparation for this moment," said British Prime Minister Tony
Blair. His Irish counterpart Bertie Aherne weighed in, saying the
agreement "has the potential to transform the future of this
island".
(China Daily via agencies March 27, 2007)
