MLAs Welcome Obama Speech

Northern Ireland's political parties have welcomed the message of hope and reconciliation in a speech made by US President Barack Obama yesterday.

Mr Obama made the speech at Belfast's Waterfront Hall, on his way to the G8 Summit in Enniskillen.

He said: "It's been 15 years now since the Good Friday Agreement; since clenched fists gave way to outstretched hands. The people of this island voted in overwhelming numbers to see beyond the scars of violence and mistrust, and to choose to wage peace. That’s extraordinary, because for years, few conflicts in the world seemed more intractable than the one here in Northern Ireland. And when peace was achieved here, it gave the entire world hope.

"But as all of you know all too well, for all the strides that you’ve made, there’s still much work to do. There are still people who haven’t reaped the rewards of peace. There are those who aren’t convinced that the effort is worth it. There are still wounds that haven’t healed, and communities where tensions and mistrust hangs in the air. There are walls that still stand; there are still many miles to go."

Mr Obama continued: "Ultimately, peace is just not about politics. It’s about attitudes; about a sense of empathy; about breaking down the divisions that we create for ourselves in our own minds and our own hearts that don’t exist in any objective reality, but that we carry with us generation after generation."

Alliance leader David Ford said the US President "made clear that we still have a long way to go.

"That will mean integrated education, shared neighbourhoods and working with communities to bring down interfaces," he said.

"To have President Obama visit Belfast and speak was positive, but it will only be worthwhile if we take heed of what he said."

Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt remarked: "In 1995, Bill Clinton focused on the need to end violence with the words "Your day is over" for the men of terror. Today, President Obama focused on the youth of Northern Ireland, people born after the ceasefires, and his message was "Hope is contagious".

"My hope is that this speech helps change the mood of the forthcoming talks among the All-Party Group on dealing with the past, flags and parades."

SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said: "President Obama’s message today to all of us was both inspirational and challenging. The challenge he has set before all of us is one of building reconciliation and creating hope for our children and young people now and in the future.

"President Obama is right, peace is much harder to achieve and maintain than war. We have to keep working at peace. We have to lead for all the people of Northern Ireland not one section or the other."

(IT/CD)