Hillary Clinton: Don’t let Brexit undermine Ireland’s peace

09 April 2018

Clinton, who run for the presidency of the US against Donald Trump, celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement writing in The Guardian that "those who say the Good Friday agreement has run its course are wrong. Reinstating the Irish border would be an enormous setback."

These are difficult times for Northern Ireland, and for our world. As the Brexit debate rages on, I continue to believe in the value of the European Union, and of a Europe that is whole, free and at peace. But no matter the outcome of these discussions, we cannot allow Brexit to undermine the peace that people voted, fought and even died for. Reinstating the border would be an enormous setback, returning to the “bad old days” when communities would once again be set apart.

Two decades ago, it was acknowledged that just as the Troubles didn’t start overnight, peace was never going to come overnight. Now, as the world celebrates this significant anniversary, the principles the agreement represented in the first place are more important than ever: a commitment to peace, prosperity and healing as the people of Northern Ireland build a shared future. As Avila and Monica recently wrote, if short-term interests take precedence over solving the long-term challenges that still exist in Northern Ireland, “then it is clear that the hand of history will be both heavy and unforgiving”. [...]

Full letter

© The Guardian