Mitchell urges completion of power-sharing deal

Northern Ireland's politicians are on the verge of a historic compromise if they are willing to seize the opportunity, former Stormont talks chairman Senator George Mitchell said today.

The former Maine senator, who chaired the talks leading to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, said during a visit to Belfast that he was encouraged by the way unionists and nationalists had tackled the disarmament issue.

But during a visit to the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s 25th birthday, he urged them to complete a deal.

“There is an opportunity for a significant step forward,” he observed as Sinn Féin negotiators headed to Downing Street to discuss Irish and British government proposals to revive power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

“When I had the privilege of announcing the Agreement in 1998, I described it as a historic step forward but I also said that as itself, the Agreement does not guarantee peace or political stability or reconciliation.

“It made all of those things possible but there would be many difficult decisions.

“There have been setbacks. Full implementation has not been achieved and it will take a considerable time, I think, before there is genuine reconciliation.

“But at the same time, it is obvious – especially to someone who comes as regularly as I do but isn’t here all the time – that there has been tremendous progress. The rate of killing is way down, which is of paramount importance.

“There remains an unacceptably high level of non-lethal violence and mistrust remains but on the whole, I think, it is undeniable that life is better, safer, more secure, that society is more prosperous than it was even a decade ago and certainly more than it was during the time of the Troubles.

“So I think we have to be realistic in assessing the progress that has been made but acknowledging frankly that difficulties and problems remain.

“Beginning with the talks at Leeds Castle in September, and continuing up to this moment, the governments and the parties have worked hard and are on the verge of what I think would be a major step forward.

“I would hope very much that they would seize the opportunity and take that step forward.”