Chairman Crowley Statement on the 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement
(Washington, D.C.) – House Democratic Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY) issued the following statement in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which helped bring an end to centuries of violent conflict in the North of Ireland:
“Twenty years ago, leaders in the North of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined in one of the world’s most important diplomatic achievements – securing an agreement that would lead to the end of centuries of armed conflict. While the Good Friday Agreement never would have happened without the courage of leaders like Gerry Adams and Tony Blair, I also believe progress would have stalled absent the tenacity of the Irish-American community, the Clinton administration, and bipartisan support from the United States Congress.
“Today we celebrate and recognize all that has been achieved: Belfast is no longer an active war zone, rural areas live in peace, and a centuries-long system of repression has been put to rest. But this is also a time to acknowledge the challenges ahead that must be tackled in order to sustain peace and prosperity. This is why the Trump administration should respond to bipartisan calls to move forward with the appointment of a special envoy to the North, as well as commit to continuing diplomatic efforts to ensure lasting peace.
“The Good Friday Agreement was an incredible achievement, but it was a process, not an end in itself. We must continue to do all that we can to sustain the hope it created for a peaceful future not just for those in the North, but for those who believe in human rights and human dignity throughout the world.”
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