NI deal struck in historic talks

[intaglio]

Source: BBC News

Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams, sitting side by side for their first news conference in Stormont, confirmed that power-sharing would begin on 8 May.

Mr Paisley said the DUP was committed to full participation in government and Mr Adams said it was a "new era".

Tony Blair said it was a very important day for the people of Northern Ireland.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6494599.stm

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OK the age of miracles or maybe the first sign of the apocalypse ADAMS and PAISLEY sitting TOGETHER and AGREEING

[two gun sid]

1. I never thought I'd live to see this.

[intaglio]

2. Agreed,

I thought it would be Paisley Junior sometime about 2050

Now let it work!

[pberq]

3. Kick & Nominated

[stormymonday]

4. Absolutely Amazing

I am surprised there has not been more reaction to this agreement.

If this supposedly insoluble problem can be brought this far then maybe there is some hope for the world.

It is a pity Blair did not concentrate on this issue as his legacy.

[philly_bob]

5. Violence & thuggery didn't work but economic prosperity did.

Is that the lesson?

[Heidi]

6. Kick.

:kick:

[dailykoff]

7. N. Ireland: Paisley and Adams strike peace deal

Source: Manchester Evening News

26/ 3/2007

THE Rev Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams struck the peace deal of a lifetime on Monday in an extraordinary act of reconciliation which cleared the way for a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.


Working Together: Paisley (left) and Adams at the Stormont Parliament buildings in Northern Ireland on Mar. 26, 2007

The leaders of unionism and republicanism sat down together at a specially arranged diamond shaped table in a first floor dining room at Parliament Buildings in Belfast and pulled off a glittering political triumph which stunned London, Dublin and Washington.

Even though restoration of the Stormont Assembly was delayed for another six weeks, the two men agreed a deal which will have both sides in face-to-face talks starting immediately in advance of Mr Paisley being declared First Minister on May 8.

Martin McGuinness, the legendary IRA street fighter from Londonderry and still loathed by some of the Democratic Unionist leader's closest associates, will be sworn in as Deputy First Minister.

Read more: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1002/1002940_paisley_and_adams_strike_peace_deal.html

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This is a pretty big deal. These two guys hate each other's guts.

[Monkeyman]

8. I will wait and see

[dailykoff]

9. Apparently they agreed to start sharing power on May 8.

That's something, but yeah it could be a ruse. From Newsweek:

Paisley and Adams agreed to start sharing power on May 8. Between now and then, much could go wrong, and in Northern Ireland it often does. But the mere fact that Adams and Paisley sat down at the same table together and smiled for the cameras when they announced their agreement was deemed historic.

The symbolism alone gave rise to the hope that the home-rule provisions of the 1998 agreement could finally be fully implemented, complete with executive powers shared by unionists and republicans.

In order to lay the groundwork for the new government, First Minister-to-be Paisley, who turns 81 on April 6, said that prior to the May deadline he would be meeting with the Sinn Fein politician expected to be deputy first minister, Martin McGuiness, who is described in the British press as a former commander of the militant Irish Republican Army (IRA).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17801649/site/newsweek/

[Monkeyman]

10. Any Word from the hard liners if they will go along

[dailykoff]

11. Hm that's a good question.

Haven't heard anything but there's this from the Newsweek report:

In 1972, the bloodiest year of the Irish “Troubles,” police attributed 470 deaths to sectarian violence. Last year there were half a dozen. Even as their politicians have been wrangling and grabbing the headlines, the people of Northern Ireland had already moved on.

[pampango]

12. Great news. Hope it works. n/t

[two gun sid]

13. Great news. ..

but, what now? I can't believe Paisley is actually getting his picture made with The Big Lad. For years just speaking with Sinn Fein would get you tossed out of the DUP. Maybe there is some hope.

[CBHagman]

14. Satan purchases hockey team. Details at 11:00.

I'm used to near constant frustration over the Northern Ireland peace process, but this news does give me hope.

Lace up them skates, Beelzebub.

[druidity33]

15. it is

the last thing i would expect of Paisley... his rhetoric is harsh! If you've ever heard him speak... gives me the shivers. The man is filled with hate. To see him and Adams smiling at the table together is really surprising. Though there is something in Ian's smile that's crooked. Like he's thinking about something else. I wonder what bargain they struck...


it gives me hope too, but i wonder what angles they are playing at...


Erin go Bragh

[Generator]

16. Exactly what I thought

To see Paisley anywhere near Adams like that is shocking. (I am sure he's thinking bad thoughts..but..) So, who knows, anything can happen- maybe once in awhile on the good side of history. I get so tired of the predictable endless violence.

[newscott]

17. I too hope beyond hope and reserve my judgement until they implement this.

[two gun sid]

18. Video link to joint press conference.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/tv/article2395996.ece

[emad]

19. More like hysteric deal. Don't hold your breath on this one,

UK's Assets Recovery Agency, part of the Metropolitan Police, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland still hold arrest warrants for Paisley, McGuinness, Adams and up to two dozen others involved in this so called power sharing.

These go back to pre-1998 Good Friday Agreement issues and relate to unresolved money laundering charges connected to arms running, racketeering and corruption during the Thatcher Administration period 1979-1990.

My best bet is that somebody will assassinate either Paisley or McGuiness or Adams before yet another Blair botch-job is allowed to pass into this farce of so called power sharing.

EDIT: During the Saville Enquiry into the Bloody Sunday fiasco Sir Hugh Orde, the top cop in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, warned it would 'political suicide' for any third party broking a renewed power sharing deal in Northern Ireland for these warrants not to be excecuted. IE he wasn't going to let anybody off the hook but was willing to play the waiting game.

Meanwhile, the weight of evidence currently held by UK police on Blair and his Administration in the current cash-for-honors investigation is staggering and is the real deal breaker here.