Govts reaffirm commitment to agreement

The Irish and British Governments have issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to the Good Friday Agreement.

The statement says the institutions established under the agreement offer the only means by which the North can be ruled in the best interests of both nationalist and unionist communities.

It also said that both governments hope to restore the institutions before elections scheduled for next May.

This is the text of the joint statement issued today by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair:

“The two governments are both deeply saddened by today’s developments. We remain totally committed to the full implementation of the Agreement which has already brought great gains and tangible benefits to the people of Northern Ireland. It is clear, however, that devolved government cannot be made to work effectively in circumstances where there has been a breakdown of trust between those involved.

“The two Governments will continue to press forward with the full implementation of all aspects of the Agreement that will be within their respective powers to implement because we firmly believe it offers the only viable future for all the people of Northern Ireland.

“It is our sincere wish that the Northern Ireland institutions be restored as soon as possible. We firmly believe that it will be possible to do so, and in a way that will last without further disruption, once trust between the parties has been re-established. For that to happen, it must be clear that the transition from violence to exclusively peaceful and democratic means, which has been ongoing since the Agreement, and indeed before, is being brought to an unambiguous and definitive conclusion.

"It is now essential that the concerns around the commitment to exclusively democratic and non-violent means are removed. The time has come for people to clearly choose one track or the other. In addition, it is essential that each community has confidence in the commitment of the representatives of the other to the full operation and implementation of the Agreement.

“We deplore the scourges of paramilitarism and sectarianism which have led to increased tension and violence. We are determined that their destructive agenda will not succeed, and will be countered by the full rigour of the law.

“We believe that an inclusive Executive, built on trust, and the related institutions, offer the only means whereby Northern Ireland can be governed in the best interests of both communities. Both Governments will be active, in consultation with the parties, in encouraging the conditions in which devolved government can be restored in advance of the scheduled elections.

“In the meantime, the two Governments will work closely together, including through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, in a way which reflects the principles of the Agreement and which protects and develops its achievements, including in the vital area of policing.

“The agreement remains the template for political progress, has been endorsed by the people of Ireland, North and South, and is the only sustainable basis for a fair and honourable accommodation between unionists and nationalists. We are determined that it will succeed.”