Northern Ireland

Documents & Texts from the White House

07 May 2007
President Bush's Message on the Restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly

On behalf of the American people, I send greetings to those celebrating the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Congratulations to First Minister Ian Paisley, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, and the members of the new Assembly.

This year, on March 7, the people of Northern Ireland took control of their future and demonstrated their desire to build a society based on peace, respect, and opportunity for all by going to the polls and participating in the democratic process. Their message was clear: the time had come for a representative government that would work for the collective good of all the people of Northern Ireland.

I commend the Assembly for your dedication to Northern Ireland, and I applaud the people of this region for your desire to overcome a history of violence and division. I also appreciate Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, whose leadership and vision were essential in guiding the parties to reconciliation in Northern Ireland. The United States will continue to support your efforts to further advance the peace process. Together, we can build a more hopeful future for all.

Laura and I send our best wishes on this momentous day.

back to top ^