Irish applause for SA visionaries
THE agreement between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party on March 26 to restore the political institutions of the Good Friday Agreement on May 8 is truly one of those defining moments which change history.
The Irish peace process has come a long way over the last 15 years. Significant progress has been made and initiatives and developments have occurred which many would have thought impossible. The Sinn Fein agreement with Ian Paisley and his colleagues is the most potent example of that.
A new and unprecedented opportunity for progress now exists in Ireland. People are more hopeful now than at any time since the agreement.
To all of those who played a role, however large or small, I want to say a very sincere thank you. Former President Nelson Mandela, President Thabo Mbeki, Ronnie Kasrils, Cyril Ramaphosa and Robert McBride all made indispensable contributions, without which we would not be where we are today. They deserve special thanks.
Of course, there is still a long way to go and much hard work has to be done but I believe it is right and proper that we take this time to thank all those far-sighted people, like yourselves, who helped create this opportunity and who stayed with this process even in times of deepest crisis and despondency.
Please accept my most heartfelt appreciation for all your efforts. And be assured of our continued determination to keep pushing this process forward until the day we achieve Irish freedom and a free, united Ireland.
GERRY ADAMS MP
Sinn Fein president
http://www.news24.com/City_Press/Letters/0,7515,186-247_2095277,00.html
