Recognizing Northern Ireland's Catholic and Protestant political parties on the occasion of reaching a historic deal to form a power-sharing government beginning May 8, 2007.

WHEREAS, Gerry Adams of the Catholic Sinn Fein and Ian Paisley, leader of the Protestant Democratic Unionist Party met Monday, March 26 in Stormont, Northern Ireland’s the palatial parliament building; and

WHEREAS, The two rivals vowed cooperation in governance of the province after given the choice by the British government to either work together or accept direct rule from London indefinitely; and

WHEREAS, Over the past three decades, Northern Ireland’s Catholics and Protestants have engaged in a war that has claimed more than 3,600 lives; and

WHEREAS, After agreeing to work jointly for the betterment of the people of Northern Ireland, Ian Paisley stated, “After a long and difficult time in our province, I believe that enormous opportunities lie ahead. I am committed to delivering for not only those who voted for the DUP, but for all the people of Northern Ireland”; and

WHEREAS, Gerry Adams said the power-sharing agreement “created the potential to build a new harmonious and equitable relationship between nationalists and republicans and unionists, and all of the rest of the people of the island of Ireland”; and

WHEREAS, The British government will introduce legislation to authorize the establishment of the 108 member Parliament to convene on May 8th; and

WHEREAS, The assembly will be lead by Mr. Paisley as first minister and the Sinn Fein’s second-in-command, Mr. Martin McGuinness, as deputy first minister; and

WHEREAS, Britain’s Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said the agreement was “a very important day for the people of Northern Ireland, but also for the people and the history of these islands. Everything we have done over the last 10 years has been a preparation for this moment”; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize Northern Ireland’s Catholic and Protestant political parties on the occasion of reaching a historic deal to form a power-sharing government beginning May 8, 2007.

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