Northern Ireland Marks 20 Years Since Good Friday Agreement

Image: Press Association.

The architects of the Good Friday Agreement, the deal seen as the most significant breakthrough in the Northern Ireland peace process, will gather in Belfast today.

Ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former US president Bill Clinton will be among those marking the 20th anniversary of the landmark deal at Queen's University in Belfast.

The chairman of the 1998 talks US envoy to Northern Ireland George Mitchell, former Downing Street chief of staff Jonathan Powell, ex-Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and former Ulster Unionist leader Lord David Trimble will also be present.

The Good Friday or Belfast Agreement was signed on 10 April 1998, largely ending The Troubles, a 30-year sectarian conflict, which killed more than 3,000 people.

It recognised Northern Ireland’s constitutional status as part of the UK and established a principle of consent.

The Agreement included the early release of around 500 paramilitary prisoners within two years, even though IRA arms had not yet been destroyed.

Paramilitaries did destroy weapons, and the IRA did so in 2005.

Twenty years ago, Mr Mitchell chaired the Agreement talks, while calls from Mr Clinton helped secure the deal.