Northern Ireland peace process

Click a letter for the index

Or search the encyclopaedia:

 

 

Go

 

Process leading to peace, the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the decommissioning of paramilitary arms in Northern Ireland, generally considered as beginning in 1993 when London and Dublin issued the Downing Street Declaration. Ceasefire declarations by the Provisional IRA followed in August 1994 and again in May 1997. Multiparty talks began in January 1998 culminating in the ‘Good Friday agreement’ on 10th April. In November 1999, agreement was reached on the power-sharing executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and it met for the first time on 2 December 1999 as powers were devolved to the Assembly by the British government.

Since the beginning of the ‘Troubles’ in 1968, there were various attempts to reach a peaceful compromise. The Sunningdale agreement in 1973 was brought down by a massive strike of Protestant workers. In 1985 the Anglo-Irish Agreement was also rejected by Protestant Unionists.

The stars represent the five regions of Turkmenistan. The crescent symbolizes Islam. Effective date: 19 February 1997. >>