Underline the main features of The Good Friday Agreement
A remarkable feature of Westminster's approach to the Northern Ireland 'Troubles' since 1969 has been the extent to which governments and oppositions down the years set party conflicts aside in searching for remedies and solutions.When Labour came to power in 1997, the outgoing Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew, was at pains to do all he could to help the incoming minister, Dr Mo Mowlam. Discussions continued month after month between party representatives. Both Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern involved themselves in the details to a remarkable degree. Finally, on Good Friday 1998, all the main parties - with the exception of the Democratic Unionist Party - announced agreement.Essentially the SDLP MP who described the accord as 'Sunningdale for slow learners' was not wrong. A power-sharing devolved government would be formed with ministerial posts distributed according to party strength. The involvement of parties representing paramilitaries (primarily the Ulster Democratic Party, the Progressive Unionist Party and Sinn Fein) depended on the maintenance of cease-fires and 'decommissioning' of paramilitary weapons. A copy of the agreement was delivered to every household in Northern Ireland, and in May
1998 the accord was approved by referendum north and south; by a narrow margin, even unionist voters gave their approval. Finally, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference brings together the two governments to promote bi-lateral co-operation. Mr Blair, who is said to be extremely frustrated by allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont, is expected to take a final decision on the future of the peace process today. Despite the latest crisis, the most serious since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Mr Blair said he believed all the main parties were still committed to the peace process. Stormont's 12 ministers will lose their salaries. "However, having said that I'm delighted to hear the Secretary of State say that the concentration during the time of suspension would be on those who haven't lived up to those commitments, to try to get them to put away their arms and begin to dismantle and disband. The British-Irish Council provides a forum for the representatives of the London and Dublin governments, the devolved institutions in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh as well as the crown dependencies of the Channel Isles and the Isle of Man. The Good Friday Agreement is often referred to as the Good Friday Agreement because it was signed on that day in April 1998. With a return to direct rule days away, Mr Blair will focus on how to ensure a "soft landing" for the peace process. It is the fourth time the administration has been suspended since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998, and the Stormont Assembly is expected to be thick with recrimination for this afternoon's final session. He added: "We have come an enormous distance in recent years. With a monumental chasm of distrust now separating Unionists and republicans, his task will be to ensure that the suspension of the Stormont Assembly and executive is not followed by a total collapse of the peace process. We remain totally committed to the full implementation of the Agreement, which has already brought great gains and tangible benefits to the people of Northern Ireland. I hope the decision I have taken today marks a breathing space - a chance to gather strength - before that process moves forward once again. Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein President, accused the Secretary of State of dishonesty during his announcement of suspension.
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