Northern Ireland: Hillary Clinton expresses hope for reestablishment of Stormont

In New York, former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton received the Hans J. Morgenthau Award as a tribute to her relationship with Ireland and her support of the Good Friday Agreement.

In attendance was Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin to commemorate the National Committee of American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) event.

Martin highlighted the strong support of Clinton as a “friendship to Ireland, and all [her] leadership over many years in the cause of peace.”

In this anniversary year of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government of Ireland is thinking, not only of what was achieved 25 years ago, but of all that can still be achieved in the 25 years to come. ⁦@NATLCOMMITTEE⁩ pic.twitter.com/rBpF0EvnJ3

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 13, 2023

The Good Friday Agreement is still crucial to Northern Ireland’s way of life. In fact, the agreement shows the “courage and determination of the people of Northern Ireland,” according to Clinton.

Clinton highlighted how this agreement is a strong example of this relationship and between the UK as well. Clinton remarked how the agreement “remains a triumph of diplomacy.”

The agreement is a “testament to the courage and determination of the people of Northern Ireland”, she added.

Referencing the war in Ukraine, Clinton said “these are trying times and it can be tempting to just walk away from these difficulties”. She thanked the Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who was at last night’s event, for Ireland’s kind response to refugees from Ukraine.

“I think all of us can draw inspiration and strength from the accomplishment of the peace accord 25 years ago that once seemed impossible,” she said.

“I’m very optimistic about what lies ahead for Northern Ireland and in a way the Good Friday Agreement and the example of everyone who took a deep leap of faith to negotiate it, to vote for it.

“To believe in it, is an example our world and our country needs right now, to see about what does happen when ordinary citizens come together to demand peace and then work to preserve it,” she said.

Delighted to attend @NATLCOMMITTEE special event for #GFA25 honouring a trailblazer @HillaryClinton

Great to get chatting to @RichieNeal @MichealMartinTD @FergalMythen & many more on the Civic Initiative, women's inclusion in peace processes & the unfinished work of the GFA. pic.twitter.com/2LspIFVrto

— Emma DeSouza (@EmmandJDeSouza) March 14, 2023

“They may have attended different churches on Sunday, but they all prayed to the same God,” stated Clinton about the women of Northern Ireland. Clinton shared how this support from people of various traditions blossomed out of the Lamplighter cafe in Belfast.

“When they thought about the dangers that those they loved most faced and how they worried when any member of their family left their home, they knew they had to do something to try and help end the violence,” stated Clinton.

The Windsor Framework was discussed during the event as “a stable set of arrangements,” Martin claimed. Representative Richard Neal of Massachusetts, and co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Ireland caucus, mentioned how the framework is in the “spirit of trying to get to the goal line.”

In addition, the event highlighted Gerry Adams’ visa and how the NCAFP’s role in the approval was a major step forward to achieving peace. Clinton referenced back to when her spouse and then president of the United States, Bill Clinton, granted the Sinn Féín president a visa.

Martin was appreciative of the officials in attendance for the event “and of the United States as a whole to a better future for Northern Ireland.”

“We have the chance to finally realise and deliver the vision of the agreement to allow the people of the north harness the power of peace,” declared Martin.

Clinton became the first woman to be appointed Queen's University Chancellor and received an Honorary Degree from the university in 2018.