I welcome the announcement that agreement has been reached on a peace
settlement for Northern Ireland.
This historic achievement holds out the prospect for an end to the
bitter sectarian strife which has divided and afflicted the people
of Northern Ireland for so many decades.
I congratulate the two Prime Ministers, Mr Blair and Mr Ahern, and
the chairman of the peace talks, Mr George Mitchell, for their vision
and determination in encouraging the parties to make the compromises
necessary to reach a principled and fair outcome.
The Australian government urges all the parties and the people of
Northern Ireland and Ireland to seize this opportunity to ensure a
just and lasting settlement, to put behind them the years of violence
and despair and to build a future of peace and tolerance for their
children.
11 April 1998