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Subject / background:

The Good Friday Agreement and the long fight for its implementation

The agreement is known as Belfast Agreement or Good Friday Agreement (GFA) .

It was signed on Good Friday, April 10, 1998 by the Irish Government, the British Government and by the majority of parties in the North of Ireland: i.e. the UUP (the then major unionist, i.e. pro-british) party, the small unionist/loyalist PUP (party of the loyalist paramilitary organisation UVF - Ulster Volunteer Force), the Irish Nationalist party SDLP and the Irish Republican party Sinn Féin (party within the Republican Movement. Since Feb 2003 Sinn Féin is the strongest party within the Irish communities in the North of Ireland.
External Websites:

Reports and comments since 1999:
German language contributions are marked by . Note: the struggle about the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has influenced politics since 1998. Therefore it might be interesting to look at the debate around the Agreement in the broader context of all the political events during that period of time:
>>>> NEWS in chronological order <<<<
North of Ireland: Declan Kearney, Sinn Féin National Chairperson analyses the Hillsborough Castle Agreement, which was signed on February 5, 2010 and ended the severe political crisis in the six counties:
>>>> 18.02.2010: "A game changer at Hillsborough"
>>>> 27.08.2009: "Louis and Julie "
"Louis Mountbatten and Julie Livingstone were just two of the hundreds of casualties of the Troubles, but the media treatment of their deaths tells us a lot about the ways in which power controls public response."
10. Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement:
>>>> 03.04.2008: Gerry Adams: The Good Friday Agreement - an historic and defining event
>>>> 29.02.2008: Momentous Political Developments - Keynote Speech by Martin McGuinness
Journalist Maik Baumgärtner talks to Uschi Grandel from Info Nordirland about the current situation of the peace process in the North of Ireland, its impact on the life of ordinary people, the Irish Republican Movement and the influence on other conflicts:
>>>> 17.2.2008: Interview on the peace process: Democratical change to all aspects of life
Debate on decommissioning of UDA weapons of pro-british terror group UDA:
>>>> 15.11.2007: Brian Feeny: Latest stunt will not make UDA disappear
>>>> 13.10.2007: Loyalist mob sets up two catholics and almost kills them while police don't intervene
>>>> 01.11.2007: Gerry Adams: "Exploring different routes to peace"
Debate on decommissioning of UDA weapons accompanied by UDA death threats against journalists and Sinn Féin members:
>>>> 02.10.2007: Sinn Féin leaders threatened
>>>> 28.09.2007: NUJ condemns death threat against Belfast editor
The British Army ended "Operation Banner", their decades long war campaign in the North of Ireland on July 31, 2007:
>>>> 10.08.2007: Withdrawal? What withdrawal?
>>>> 13.07.2007: A story that bears repeating
>>>> 09.07.2007: British Army Learn Nothing !
>>>> 02.07.2007: British state closes ranks to protect Finucane killers
>>>> 25.06.2007: Last British troops pull out of South Armagh
>>>> 03.06.2007: British Army in the North of Ireland: Still at war?
Agreement in the peace process opens up new era of politics in the North of Ireland:
>>>> 10.05.2007: Face of Ireland changed in just 16 minutes
>>>> 08.05.2007: Declaration from the German Ireland Solidarity Groups on power sharing: an important step in the long process of conflict resolution
>>>> 07.05.2007: 'Difficult journey' to move forward
>>>> 26.03.2007: Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams joint press conference - full text of the speeches
>>>> 26.03.2007: Paisley & Adams agree deal
>>>> 25.03.2007: Devolution restored pending agreement
>>>> 03.05.2007: UVF Statement: "Weapons out of reach and civilianised role in society" / first reactions and comments
>>>> 22.04.2007: UVF spy ring had dossiers on 116 people
Assembly Elections in the North of Ireland:
>>>> 17.3.2007: Ronan Bennett: In a British fairyland
>>>> 15.3.2007: Mitchel McLaughlin: Decision of Electorate must be respected
>>>> 12.3.2007: Our comment: Voters demand power sharing (German language only)
>>>> 09.3.2007: Assembly Election 2007 - final results
Special Sinn Féin Ard Fheis on "Policing and Justice" on January 28, 2007 in Dublin:
Analysis:
>>>> 4.2.2007: Sea change in Northern politics
Voices from the Ard Fheis:
>>>> Martin McGuinness proposing the Ard Chomhairle motion at the Extraordinary Ard Fheis
>>>> Laurence McKeown: Policing debate another historic milestone in evolution of republican strategy
Further coverage, speeches and videos on >>>> Sinn Féin website <<<<
Intensive negotiations ahead to restore assembly:
>>>> 10.01.2007: DUP's creative ambiguity has limited lifespan
>>>> 02.01.2007: Gerry Adams explains Irish-Republican strategy: Sinn Féin wants to achieve maximum change
>>>> 29.12.2006: Sinn Féin to hold Ard Fheis (party conference) on policing
>>>> 25.11.2006: Stone charged with Adams murder bid / Debate on power sharing continues
>>>> 24.11.2006: Gerry Adams nominates Martin McGuinness for power sharing government
>>>> 16.11.2006: British Legislation lifts agreement deadline / Gerry Adams - Process is moving in the right direction
>>>> 10.11.2006: Governments to move St Andrews process forward
>>>> 10.10.2006: Sinn Féin - Determined to make Progress
7. September 2006 - Updates on the peace process - intensive negotiations ahead to restore assembly - deadline 24. November:
>>>> 06.09.2006: Hain confirms "intensive" talks conference
>>>> 06.09.2006: Equality is the guarantee for all
Account of a journey, August 2006 (at the moment only in German language - translation to English language follows during September):
>>>> 25.08.2006 County Tyrone, Cappagh/Galbally, 13. -16. July 2006: "The whole district pays tribute to Martin Hurson"
Just before the first anniversary of the historic IRA statement ending its armed campaign the British and Irish government publicly state: "there is not any organised ‘from-the-centre’ criminality of the IRA"
>>>> 26.07.2006 Criminality excuse finally laid to rest
>>>> 28.07.2006: Opportunity opened up can still be grasped / Unionists still refuse to have open minds
New talks in the Irish peace process from Mai 15, 2006 to reestablish power sharing government in the North:
>>>> 10.05.2006: Gerry Adams: "Sinn Féin approach to Assembly"
>>>> 12.05.2006: Overview on the positions of the different parties
New talks in the Irish peace process from Mai 15, 2006 to reestablish power sharing government in the North:
>>>> 30.04.2006: Monitoring report turns up heat on unionist leaders
>>>> 07.04.2006: Press statement on behalf of the Donaldson family
>>>> 05.04.2006: Who killed Denis Donaldson?
>>>> 05.04.2006: Death of Denis Donaldson: Killers are hostile to peace process
New talks in the Irish peace process:
>>>> 05.02.2006: Disband the IMC - Sinn Fein
>>>> 05.02.2006: Lies and Propaganda
>>>> 27.01.2006: PARTIES SET FOR TALKS SHOWDOWN
>>>> 25.01.2006: Brian Feeny: Outcome of IMC report is very predictable
Light is shed into police/secret services role in collapsing institutions in the North of Ireland in 2002:
>>>> 11.01.2006: Vincent Browne (Irish Times): "The dog ate my homework"
>>>> 28.12.2005: Open letter to Tony Blair
>>>> 17.12.2005: Expelled member of Sinn Féin was British spy - British role in collapsing Executive exposed
>>>> 09.12.2005: Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern: Spy case 'a lot of grief for no prosecutions'
>>>> 09.12.2005: 'Spy' trio held 'to save Trimble'
>>>> 04.12.2005 Political rows surround ‘on-the-runs’ legislation
>>>> 03.12.2005 Come forward, state offenders are urged by victims’ group
IRA delivers on it's promises:
>>>> 06.10.2005 Jim Gibney: IRA initiative strengthens peace process
>>>> 26.09.2005 Gerry Adams: a very positive response to my appeal to the IRA
>>>> 26.09.2005 BBC: IRA 'has destroyed all its arms'
>>>> 25.09.2005 IRA will dump arms soon - Gerry Adams
>>>> 24.09.2005 Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams: Sinn Féin seek progress in time ahead
IRA ends armed campaign:
>>>> 28.07.2005 statement of the IRA
>>>> 28.07.2005 Comment from Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams
>>>> 29.07.2005 Reactions from other parties
>>>> 27.07.2005 Unionist (pro-British) paramilitaries: “Armed and dangerous”
>>>> 28.05.2005 Who will address nationalist fears?
>>>> 26.05.2005 DUP's unionist domination will not happen
>>>> 23.05.2005 Gerry Adams: Only way forward is through the Good Friday Agreement
>>>> 12.05.2005 Andytown News: Is that your best shot?
>>>> 10.05.2005 Susan McKay: Unionism is to blame for jigging David's fall
>>>> 26.04.2005 IRA has authorised discussion on initiative of Gerry Adams
>>>> 08.04.2005 Designed to succeed
>>>> 06.04.2005 Gerry Adams - an address to the IRA
Crisis in the peace process: the aim behind criminalizing and demonizing the IRA is trying to undermine the Irish-Republican party Sinn Féin and their election success in Ireland North and South:
>>>> 07.02.2005 Sinn Féin opposed to return to conflict
>>>> 02.02.2005 IRA offer withdrawn
>>>> 30.01.2005 Martin McGuinness: High Intensity Politics
>>>> 28.01.2005 Jim Gibney: Criminalisation revisited
PSNI Chief Constable accusations throws peace process into crisis:
>>>> 24.1.2005 Spooks, Robbers and Dirty Tricks - by Martin McGuinness
>>>> 14.1.2005 Intelligence, opinions and illusions - an analysis by Laura Friel
>>>> 14.1.2005 Killing the process
>>>> 10.1.2005 Comment on the bank heist in Belfast and the political consequences
>>>> 10.1.2005 McGuinness: Sinn Féin will not allow mandate to be set aside
Peace Process: DUP refuses new compromise although IRA offers decommissioning until end of 2004:
>>>> 15.12.2004 Brian Feeny: "It's impossible to deliver, so let's move on"
>>>> 14.12.2004 Who will save the Doc from himself?
>>>> 14.12.2004 Paisley cuts ties with taoiseach
>>>> 12.12.2004 Blair and Ahern dance to Paisley's tune
>>>> 09.12.2004 One-sidedness will not aid peace
>>>> 29.11.2004 Ulster close to power deal, says Adams
>>>> 08.10.2004 Gerry Adams: Looking to the Future
>>>> 18.09.2004 End to IRA not enough for DUP
Ten years on from the first IRA ceasefire (August 31, 1994):
>>>> 29.08.2004 North reforms in a sorry state 10 years later
>>>> 16.06.2004 Election Analysis: The elephant will not be going away
IMC publishes first report:
>>>> 26.04.2004 IMC Report: Community response is on the way
>>>> 26.04.2004 Danny Morrison: "IMC's spies and spinners "
>>>> 20.04.2004 Response by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams to publication of IMC Report
>>>> 20.04.2004 IMC report leads to sanctions, talks cancellation
>>>> 15.01.2004 Key note speech by Gerry Adams
>>>> 09.01.2004 Interview mit Gerry Adams
>>>> 29.10.2003 IRA statement on deal collapse
>>>> 28.10.2003 Irish government statement on talks, election
>>>> 28.10.2003 British government statement on talks, election
>>>> 27.10.2003 Pre-election talks end in failure
Election date set for November 26 - David Trimble stops break through in the peace process:
21.10.2003 could have been a historical day with a break through in the peace process had David Trimble not haltet the carefully synchronized sequence of events by not delivering his part of the chain of events:
21.10.2003 CLICK The planned sequence of events
21.10.2003 CLICK Gerry Adams keynote address on peace process developments
21.10.2003 CLICK IRA statement on arms
21.10.2003 CLICK Large tranche of IRA arms destroyed - IICD
21.10.2003 CLICK Trimble slams on the brakes
Ulster Unionists have no future with further damaging the Good Friday Agreement:
07.06.2003 CLICK James Kelly (Irish News): "Agreement is the only show in town"
06.06.2003 CLICK Denis Bradley (Irish News): "There’s no future in digging more holes"
29.05.2003 CLICK DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST BRITISH DENIAL OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
04.05.2003 CLICK Martin McGuinness on the Cancellation of the Elections by the British Government
07.05.2003 CLICK IRA Statements in response to the joint declaration and the current crisis
05.05.2003 CLICK Sinn Fein: British Government Cancels Elections
02.05.2003 CLICK Joint declaration of the British and Irish governments (PDF, 94 KB)
17.04.2003 CLICK Irish News on Crisis of the Peace Process: "No weasels here – we’re crystal clear"
17.04.2003 CLICK Sinn Fein Press Release: "Gerry Adams addresses current crisis in peace process"
29.01.2003 CLICK Mitchel McLaughlin analysis Sinn Feins focus within the current crisis
26.01.2003 CLICK Peace Process: Trimble claims victory over IRA, may boycott talks
24.01.2003 CLICK Peace Process: Blair, Ahern talks on crisis
10.01.2003 CLICK "Take your partner ..." - the UUP and the crisis of the peace process
04.01.2003 CLICK 2003 must be a turning point
23.12.2002 CLICK 'spy-ring' accused Ciaran Kearney and Denis Donaldson released on bail
09.12.2002 CLICK Veteran Civil Rights Campaigner Oliver Kearney Fights for Bail for his Son
09.12.2002 CLICK Mitchel McLaughlin, Sinn Féin: "Has Unionism really changed?"
08.11.2002 CLICK Analysis: The problem with republicans
31.10.2002 CLICK The Andersontown News on the new British Secretary of State, Paul Murphy
Severe crisis of the peace process after suspension of the institutions:
30.10.2002 CLICK Flash: IRA suspends contact with arms decommissioning body
26.10.2002 CLICK Gerry Adams response to the speech of Tony Blair
19.10.2002 CLICK What needs to be done - an overview on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
19.10.2002 CLICK IRA reject 'unrealistic demands'
18.10.2002 CLICK Analysis by Jim Gibney: Republicans willing to compromise, not surrender
17.10.2002 CLICK Sinn Fein's response to the speech of Tony Blair
13.10.2002 CLICK Flash: Institutions to be suspended from midnight Monday
10.10.2002 CLICK Andersontown News: Stormont raid could not have been done better, Mr Orde
10.10.2002 CLICK O'Loan papers taken in raid - Kearney at centre of Police Ombudsman talks
08.10.2002 CLICK Trimble sets new deadline for Sinn Féin expulsion
06.10.2002 CLICK Irish Government to quiz British on Sinn Fein raids in North
05.10.2002 CLICK OUTRAGE AT ATTACK ON POLITICAL PROCESS
29.09.2002 CLICK Brian Feeny's analysis on the renewed threat of Unionists to quit the joint government
29.09.2002 CLICK Unionists threaten to quit the joint government - report and analysis by the Irish Times (e)
05.9.2002 CLICK McGuinness lashes out at unionism
28.4.2002 CLICK Police in N Ireland 'sabotage' peace deal
27.4.2002 CLICK Round up the usual suspects!
23.4.2002 CLICK Analysis: If you are going to tell a lie tell a big one
21.4.2002 CLICK BBC: IRA says ceasefire intact!
05.4.2002 CLICK Report: 'Substantial' Amount of IRA Arms Put beyond Use
02.4.2002 CLICK Statement of the IRA on its second initiative to put arms beyond use
05.4.2002 CLICK : Kelly calls on Blair to intervene to end dirty tricks campaign
01.4.2002 CLICK : Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams: "Republicans will not take the blame
for a raid on Castlereagh police station "
30.3.2002 CLICK : Pat Finucane Centre:
"RUC/PSNI raids in astonishing connection with the March 17 break-in in Castlereagh"
19.3.2002 CLICK : Neue Züricher Zeitung: "Mysteriöser Einbruch in Belfast - Geheimdienste unter Verdacht" (d)
19.3.2002 CLICK : Pat Finucane Center on " Special Branch Break-In "
06.11.2001 CLICK Anti-Agreement anger as Trimble is finally elected
05.11.2001 CLICK Andersontown News: Slán (Bye) to the RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary)
05.11.2001 CLICK Danny Morrison in Andersontown News: "The core of the problem"
- on unionist difficulties with accepting equality

23.10.2001 CLICK Flash: IRA announces it has disposed of arms
22.10.2001 CLICK Gerry Adams: Looking to the future - how to solve the crisis in the peace process
04.10.2001 CLICK Andersontown News: "Hypocrisy grows by the day" (e)
20.8.2001 CLICK Danny Morrison  FARC-ical episode
01.7.2001 CLICK Danny Morrison on the resignation of UUP leader David Trimble
as first minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly

28.6.2001 CLICK Irish News: Gerry Adams - it is time to make politics work
13.1.2001 CLICK Crisis of the peace process - review of 2000
News - Archive 2000 => CLICK
News - Archive 1999 => CLICK