Clinton praises historic achievement

US SECRETARY of State Hillary Clinton praised the agreement which meets republican demands for the transfer of law and order powers, while detailed timetables also set out a framework to meet unionist calls for a new system to oversee loyal order parades.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the agreement laid the foundations for a new future: “That better future must be built on mutual respect for people of different traditions, equality and tolerance and respect for each other’s political aspirations and cultural expressions and inheritance.”

Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “The achievements have been as great as they are inspirational. This moment and this agreement belongs to the people of Northern Ireland, all of the people, and now more than ever before, so does their future.”