Chris Heaton-Harris warned that 'Agreement should never be taken for granted' Photo: Liam McBurney/Pennsylvania.
Peace in Northern Ireland is fragile, the provincial cabinet minister warned, amid terrorist threats from dissident Republicans ahead of President Joe Biden's visit this week.
In a report Exclusive to The Telegraph, reproduced in full below, Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland Secretary, warned that peace on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement could not be taken for granted due to Republicans who wanted to bring it back to the «dark old days» of Troubles.
Rishi Sunak is due to meet Mr. Biden on the runway when he lands in Northern Ireland late Tuesday evening.
Following bilateral talks with the Prime Minister, Mr Biden will mark the anniversary with a speech on Wednesday in Belfast.
The visit will be seen as a significant endorsement of the Brexit deal negotiated by Mr. Sunak.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister the minister said it was «the start of a new chapter» for Northern Ireland.
He urged parties, including the dissenting DUPD, to re-establish a power-sharing government with Stormont saying «There is work to be done.»
The Good Friday Agreement
Anniversary events are at the center of Northern Ireland's biggest police operation in a decade after police chiefs warned they have 'strong' intelligence that Republican dissidents are plotting to use violence during Monday's Easter parades to carry out terrorist attacks against the police.
Last month, the terrorist threat level for Northern Ireland was raised from 'substantial' to 'severe', meaning an attack is considered 'highly likely' ahead of Easter Rising parades against Britain. board in 1916. occurred after the attempted murder of a senior detective during a shootout blamed on the new IRA.
Counterterrorism police conducted a major search operation in Derry over the weekend linked to a planned bomb plot. Police have also launched an investigation after some participants in the Irish Republican Socialist Parade wore masks, a potential violation of terrorism laws that prohibit the use of clothing associated with banned organizations.
The parade in west Belfast is currently being investigated by the police. Photo: Calvin Boyce/Press Eye. to the dark old days.»
«This is a stark reminder of the fragility of peace,» he said.
«The peace of the Accord should never be taken for granted, it is was the beginning of the path; a journey to strive to build the best, most prosperous Northern Ireland that its people deserve.”
However, Mr. Heaton-Harris also expressed his «disappointment» at the failure to re-establish a power-sharing government currently blocked by the DUOP's opposition to the Windsor Framework, which he warned would undermine the Union.
He said the lack of a functioning government was «simply not enough» for the 1.9 million people in Northern Ireland, whose frustration was «fully justified».
“I share the disappointment,” he said.
Mr. Sunak said that President Biden's visit demonstrated international support for the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, but said that all political leaders need to «redouble our efforts to fulfill the promise made in 1998» and «keep on with governance.»< /p>
“We are ready to work with our partners in the Irish government and local parties to ensure that institutions are reopened as soon as possible. There is work to be done.”
Agreement should never be taken for granted
Chris Heaton-Harris
Monday marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast Agreement (Good Friday). This is an important event for everyone in the United Kingdom, especially Northern Ireland, and for our neighbors in Ireland.
The Agreement gave Northern Ireland a new start. It helped end almost 30 years of Troubles and made it possible to grow up in a more peaceful, increasingly prosperous society that is taking steps towards reconciliation.
Through the Agreement, Northern Ireland has broken down many of the barriers that separated communities. Today, more children than ever can benefit from an integrated education. And simple things that seemed almost unthinkable a quarter of a century ago, such as the bus route connecting east and west Belfast, are now seen as part of normal daily life.
And we are lucky that the generation of our children has no direct experience and memories of the dark years of the Time of Troubles. But this cannot be taken for granted, as recent events have shown that a small number of people who want to drag us all back to the dark old days still exist. Recent attacks by Republican dissidents are a stark reminder of this. Although the reaction of local residents speaks volumes. They are united, categorical in their conviction that there is no place in Northern Ireland for any heinous attempt to undermine and disrupt the peace.
This is a vivid reminder of the fragility of the world. The peace provided by the Agreement should never be taken for granted, it marked the beginning of the journey; a journey to strive to build the best and most prosperous Northern Ireland that its people deserve.
It is clear that we are on this path; Northern Ireland is thriving. Its economy has been transformed by the world, it boasts a fantastic tourism sector and a vibrant film and television industry that has produced amazing entertainment such as the recently released Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, as well as The Northman, The Fall and, of course, Game of Thrones. Northern Ireland also boasts impressive engineering firms and a cyber sector that has attracted significant international investment. Northern Ireland today is a center of ingenuity and innovation that would have been unimaginable in the decades before 1998.
We, as the UK Government, have proven our commitment to helping the entire community build a more reconciled and integrated future, and we let's continue our efforts.
I continue to listen closely to the conversation in the community, and the feeling of frustration that the Executive Branch and the Assembly are not working again is fully justified. I share the disappointment.
Northern Ireland has benefited from locally accountable, power-sharing government, but the fact that autonomous institutions have not been fully functional for a third of the time since 1998 is simply not enough for 1.9 million people who call this part of the United Kingdom home.
We must be honest. A number of measures are having a direct impact on the people of Northern Ireland due to the continued lack of accountable local government, devolved government.
The UK government wants Northern Ireland institutions to provide better public services, more investment and a stronger Union based on prosperity.
Such political instability undermines the strength of our Union.
Of course, it is perfectly legitimate that some people seek to change the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. But for the majority, like myself, who see or believe in the benefits of the Union and want it to flourish, there is no surer way to achieve this than by bringing political parties together to get the job done to get the job done. people's priorities and make Northern Ireland work.
Now, 25 years later, a generation in Northern Ireland has grown up in a society of relative peace — a huge achievement. As we continue to invest in the Northern Ireland economy, we must also remember to invest in the youth of Northern Ireland.
We must ensure that the path towards the Agreement and the progress of Northern Ireland since 1998 is fully understood by future generations. We must also use every opportunity to demonstrate to them the tangible benefits of the Agreement. Ultimately, generations after the Agreement will need to capitalize on its benefits and build an even better future for Northern Ireland.
It is important that everyone in Northern Ireland see the benefits of a peaceful society. It is important that we, as a government, continue to invest in our communities, which have so much potential for the future, and we will continue to do so. We want the communities of Northern Ireland to come together to seize the future opportunities stemming from the recent Windsor Agreement and dedicate the next 25 years to building a more prosperous country based on peace and social stability.
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