USA: IRISH PM BERTIE AHERN SPEECH скачать в хорошем качестве

USA: IRISH PM BERTIE AHERN SPEECH

(13 Nov 1999) English/Nat Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said on Friday the Northern Ireland peace process was at a most sensitive point as Republicans and Unionists decide whether or not to move ahead with talks in the Good Friday Agreement. Ahern's comments came during his speech before the National Committee on American Foreign Policy in New York about the stalled peace process. He praised former U-S Senator George Mitchell for his solid leadership in the effort to break the impasse between them. Ahern also said that, although he has frequently asked Mitchell in the last two months to extend his stay in Northern Ireland, he won't ask him to stay past Monday. Most of all the prime minister showed a strong resolve to come to a final agreement by both sides so as to enact the wish of the great majority in the Island. SOUNDBITE: (English) "And you will be aware that Senator Mitchell has today adjourned the review, till Monday morning, indicating that he has reached the final and most critical phase. He has asked the parties to pause over the weekend to reflect on the magnitude of the decisions they have to make. And therefore the review, President, is going to take a little more time. The reality is that the Good Friday Agreement remains the best and only hope of putting the past behind us, bridging conflict and bringing about real partnership in Northern Ireland and the Island of Ireland. And that's what the people want, that's what they voted for and we are determined that that is what they are have. It is not within my hands or my capabilities to do anything else. The people on the island were asked to vote collectively for the first time since 1918. They voted for the Good Friday Agreement in the South by a vote of 95 percent. In the North by 75 percent and therefore I as a political leader and both the Irish and British administration are only in the business of implementing what the people have decided and I do not have any other power." SUPER CAPTION: Bertie Ahern, Irish Prime Minister Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...