Northern Ireland

Documents & Texts from the State Department

30 January 2007
Statement from the U.S. Special Envoy to the Northern Ireland Peace Process Mitchell Reiss

Special Advisor for Northern Ireland Mitchell B. Reiss visited Northern Ireland January 29, to meet with Northern Ireland political parties and British officials and review the implementation of the St. Andrews Agreement.

Ambassador Reiss also used this opportunity to introduce his successor, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, who accompanied Ambassador Reiss on this trip.

Ambassador Reiss warmly welcomes the actions of Sinn Fein at its January 28 Ard Fheis to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and he commends the leadership of Gerry Adams in bringing the Republican movement to this historic moment.

On January 29, Sinn Fein took another positive step forward when Gerry Adams encouraged all republicans to cooperate with the police.

Ambassador Reiss looks forward to a further supportive response by the Sinn Fein’s Executive Committee when it meets on January 30, and expects that Sinn Fein will continue down the road of full support for the St. Andrews Agreement.

Reiss also stated that now is the time for the unionist community to signal its renewed support for St. Andrews Agreement by clearly indicating that it stands ready to fulfill the St. Andrews commitments for power-sharing once a new Northern Ireland Assembly is elected.

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