By April Drew

LEADERS in the U.S. have welcomed the agreement between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party to restore the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive by May 8.

President Bush’s special envoy on Northern Ireland Paula Dobriansky said, “Today’s agreement demonstrates a new era in Northern Ireland and augers well for the successful establishment of a fully functioning Northern Ireland Ass-embly.” She went on to congratulate British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, saying that their “leadership throughout the process was critical to bringing a successful conclusion.”

Senator Edward Kennedy, who has long been involved in the peace process and was the prime proponent of securing the first U.S. entry visa for Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in 1994, said in a statement on the Senate floor on Monday, “The agreement gives hope to all who have worked so long and hard to bring Unionists and Nationalists together in government on a permanent basis.

“Prime Minister Ahern of Ireland and Prime Minister Blair of Britain have been strong allies for peace. John Hume and many others have been heroes along the way. But the indispensable persons in this historic agreement today are Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, and Reverend Ian Paisley, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.”

Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton said that the lives of people in Northern Ireland will finally be transformed. “I have had the honor of working with so many parties that should be commended for their strength, bravery and endurance in traveling this long, challenging road toward reaching the goal of fully implementing the promise embodied in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998,” she said.

“Today’s agreement means that the Northern Ireland peace process will serve as a model to the world in resolving differences and restoring lasting peace through power sharing and the promotion of common interests among diverse groups.”

Another Democratic presidential contender, Senator Barack Obama, also commended the parties for coming together. “Today’s first face-to-face meeting between Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley was another important, historic first on the path to lasting peace,” he said.

“Reports of today’s discussions offer great hope for the people of Northern Ireland that, at long last, their elected political officials will work together for a better future for all.”

Senator John McCain, a Republican presidential front runner, also welcomed the agreement. “There is still a great deal to be accomplished between now and May 8, when the power sharing Executive is to resume operations, but the weekend’s developments augur well. At long last, after so many decades of violence and pain, old enemies are seated at the same table, talking about a future of peace and prosperity,” he said.

Congressman Richie Neal, chairman of the Friends of Ireland in the House, said, “The agreement reached in Belfast today is one of most significant developments on the island of Ireland in more than a century. A power-sharing government with elected officials working on a cross community basis should bring a future of peace, equality and prosperity.”

Congressman Joseph Crowley of Queens stated, “This great news represents a major step forward in the north of Ireland toward achieving lasting peace, freedom and autonomy for its people.”

Bill Flynn, the former chairman of Mutual of America and a key Irish American activist, told the Irish Voice that the historic agreement was worth waiting for.

“It is the finest piece of news that any of us have received since the early 1990s. It’s well overdue and we have to give a lot of credit to Mr. Adams and Mr. McGuinness and their whole team, and at a higher level great credit must be given to Tony Blair and the taoiseach and to Albert Reynolds who began the whole process in the fall of 1992.”

Mutual of America Chairman Tom Moran felt “the whole world should be watching this model of conflict resolution which is demonstrated so positively that the deepest differences and divides can be overcome.

“I believe great credit belongs to the taoiseach and prime minister and the secretary of state and particularly to all those political parties like Sinn Fein and the DUP. I regret only that David Irvine is not alive to witness the day,” said Moran. Irvine was the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party who passed away earlier this year of a brain hemorrhage.

Bruce Morrison, known for his long involvement with the peace process, also was delighted with the advancement.

“I think that this is an enormous breakthrough after a long and difficult process. The ultimate credit goes to the political leadership on the ground in Northern Ireland that has worked this process through many years and I’m glad that we’ve reached the day that politics have triumphed over the use of force or ignoring of the opportunity for everyone to participate,” he said.

Larry Downes, head of Friends of Sinn Fein in the U.S., said his group is upbeat and optimistic about the event that happened on Monday but will wait until May 8 before celebrating because “that is when the real business will be done, when the government is up and running.”

Father Sean McManus of the Irish National Caucus stated, “I was very pleased and I was hoping that it would happen. It may have been very slow but I’m glad it happened, I congratulate Dr. Paisley and Gerry Adams on a very significant development.”

An indication of renewed U.S. economic investment in Northern Ireland came from New York City Comptroller William Thompson.

Together with Stephen Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Fire-fighters Association of Greater New York and a trustee on the New York City Fire Department Pension Fund, he expressed confidence that the city will increase its investment in the North.

“This fall, we led a delegation to Northern Ireland to discuss New York City’s investments, and urged leaders on both sides to work toward resolution in achieving a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland which we hope will help establish the long-term stability conducive to foreign investment,” they said in a joint statement.

“We believe that today’s announcement signals a time of great opportunity for investors such as the New York City pension funds to further invest in Ireland’s future. We will join our colleagues at the pension funds to explore prudent investment options in what we hope will be the dawn of a new era of peace and justice.”