Mitchell Praises Paisley

The man widely billed as the architect of the NI Peace process, Senator George Mitchell has praised the outgoing First Minister as he prepared to step down from the Northern Ireland Executive early next month.

The former US Senator paid tribute to 82-year-old North Antrim MP Dr Ian Paisley who walked out 11 years ago from the initial negotiations, which then led to the Good Friday Agreement.

"I have to say it has been a pleasant surprise seeing what has happened," Senator Mitchell, who chaired the Stormont talks, said.

"Dr Paisley deserves credit for doing the right thing at the right time."

Senator Mitchell was commenting ahead of a conference at Queen's University in Belfast later this month about how peace in Northern Ireland was achieved.

Among the speakers lined up for the two-day event are former First Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lord (David) Trimble, former Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, and South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chairman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The Mitchell Conference will also involve Lagan Valley DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who was a member of the Ulster Unionists at the time of the Agreement, and will also feature academic contributions.

It follows a symposium organised by the US Ireland Alliance which took place in Belfast in March which featured Senator Mitchell, former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former SDLP Leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, Ulster Unionist Leader Sir Reg Empey and other key architects of the Agreement.

In 2001 Senator Mitchell, who is a Chancellor of the university, produced a report on the Middle East, which urged the Israelis and Palestinians to reaffirm their commitment to previous agreements and call an immediate, unconditional ceasefire.

And while he acknowledged today the template, which achieved peace in Northern Ireland, couldn't simply be transplanted into the Middle East or other conflicts, Senator Mitchell said there was a clear desire around the world to learn from the Province.

"I think there were a number of factors in Northern Ireland which led to peace," the former Stormont talks Chairman observed.

"Firstly the public had gotten sick of the conflict. There was a general weariness with war and all the difficulties conflict imposed on everyone.

"The second thing was the governments of Britain and Ireland persevered through several failed efforts and kept the process going until there was agreement.

"Third, I know the political leaders of every country involved - the US, the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland - are subject to criticism and public ridicule but Northern Ireland was very fortunate to have very courageous leaders who were able and willing to do the right thing at the right time.

"And finally I think the one indispensable factor to peace building was economic growth and job creation. You have to give people opportunity and hope.

"That is why the US investment conference that has taken place in Belfast over the past week is so important," he said.

(BMcC)