Working Together to Fulfil the Promise of Peace
By Roy Lie Atjam
The Hague. The Irish and British Ambassadors in the Netherlands, Ambassador Brendan Rogers and Ambassador Joanna Roper, along with Leiden University – Faculty of Humanities jointly hosted a panel discussion on the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement on 25 May 2023.
Introductory speeches were delivered by Ambassador Brendan Rogers, and Ambassador Joanna Roper followed by Mr. Joost van Dieren, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
The event brought together a panel of speakers who were either involved in the negotiations which brought about the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 or who have first-hand experience of Northern Ireland and insight into the outcome of the Agreement. The participants in the panel discussions were:
David Cooney, Secretary General of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2014, former Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and a member of the Irish Government team for the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement.
Bronagh Hinds, a key participant in the Good Friday Agreement negotiations for the Women’s Coalition and the former Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Dr. Katy Radford, Chair of British Council Northern Ireland’s Advisory Committee and UK Electoral Commissioner with responsibility for Northern Ireland.
Dr. Joost Augusteijn of Leiden University, the foremost specialist on Irish Affairs in the Netherlands, served as moderator.
April 10, 2023, marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) also called the Belfast Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement is both a peace agreement and the basis for a reformed and inclusive Government in Northern Ireland. The vision of the Agreement is based on hope, inclusion, power sharing, and on peace and reconciliation.
The Agreement has led to sustained peace in Northern Ireland; addressed many of the issues that underpinned conflict during the previous decades and has now become a model for addressing other entrenched conflicts across the world. This is more pertinent in a context where we have witnessed the return of major inter-state wars to the European continent.
This anniversary year is an opportunity to reflect on the Peace Process and on the progress that Northern Ireland has made over the past quarter of a century. It is also a time to celebrate what was a transformative moment for Northern Ireland and the relationships within and between the two islands.
Northern Ireland has changed over the last 25 years. In an increasingly interconnected world, it has become more diverse, more prosperous, and more outward looking. The Good Friday Agreement challenged our assumptions of what we once thought possible. It offered a pathway to a better future and has provided the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous society. It remains, despite difficulties and challenges, the foundation for a hopeful future as we look to what the current generation of leaders and peacemakers can achieve in the next 25 years.
The Ambassador of Ireland recounts his experiences as he said
“I am a child of what we euphemistically call “The Troubles”. I was entering my teenage years when Belfast and other Northern cities and towns burst into flames after the simmering resentments and discrimination of a couple of generations could no longer be contained. And coming from Dundalk on the border I could not shield myself from the physical reality of a murderous, inhuman conflict being waged a few miles down the road. Some of which I witnessed.
I was a student in Dublin and less than a kilometre from the bombs that tore the centre of Dublin in May 1974, killing 26 and injuring hundreds. It’s hard to believe that in 1972, 479 people lost their lives. 79 of those were 18 years or younger. Around 50, 17 or younger.
Proportional to population size, that is the equivalent of 4,311 Dutch citizens. The Troubles claimed 3,598 lives by the time the GFA was signed. Or, again, equivalent to 32,382 Dutch citizens.
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement signed in April 1998, brought, for all intents and purposes the conflict to an end.
We are here today, as we have reached 25 years since the GFA to reflect on what has been achieved. We are also here to dialogue on how the Agreement has continued to shape the politics of Ireland, the relationship between the two islands and how it has itself been shaped by more recent events.
Our challenge in Ireland and the UK, and with our friends further afield, is how best to ensure that the peace, prosperity and well-being tare evident in the streets of Belfast today and which remains the reality for future generations in NI and indeed on the island of Ireland.
And with that, I look forward to listening to our excellent panellists here today. At an anniversary moment such as this one, it is important to take some time to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements, while also remaining mindful that the work of embedding peace, building prosperity and ensuring that everyone has a decent life must continue every day.”
The Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland echoed these sentiments by stating: –
“It is important that we hold this event together with the Irish Embassy to reflect on the last 25 years and look forward.
The anniversary marks a historic and shared achievement for Northern Ireland and the UK and Irish governments. In the 25 years since its signing, we still share a steadfast commitment to upholding the Agreement in all its dimensions, and the peace and prosperity it brings to Northern Ireland. The nature of life on the island of Ireland is unique and the bilateral relationship and the continued dialogue between our countries is vital to maintaining it. If the last 25 years have been about peace, then we hope the coming 25 will enable us to focus on building upon that firm foundation to achieve even greater reconciliation and economic prosperity for all communities in Northern Ireland.
The Agreement itself commits to the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance and mutual trust. Twenty-five years on, we are no less committed to this aim. Although substantial progress has been made, we recognise that there is more to be done. But today is a moment to recognise this shared achievement that has benefitted and continues to benefit all of Northern Ireland. Twenty-five years on, the Agreement is just as important today as it ever was.”
The event concluded with a showing of a short film from the British Council to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which brought together twenty-five young people from across Ireland and the UK. Capturing the voices and sentiments of those impacted by the Agreement, this group of young people reflected on the last 25 years and consider what peace has meant to them. They looked forward to the next 25 years, and highlighted their hopes for the future, building on the foundation provided by the Agreement.
Diplomats at the commemorative event were the Ambassadors of, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Rwanda, and other representatives from the diplomatic community, academia and civil society.
