The Most Revd Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland has called on everyone to play their part to ensure that the, “the peace we have begun to enjoy is truly embedded.” Quoting from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, he says, “Live in harmony with one another ... do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12.16a, 17-18). He goes on to say that, “This is exactly what is required of all the people of Northern Ireland and especially those in positions of leadership.
In the Archbishop's statement, he say, “It is clear that since February 5 considerable progress has been made. This progress is due to the commitment and cooperation of all the main parties, not least those that were not originally participants in the Hillsborough negotiations, becoming included only at a very late stage.”
“Such work on the part of the Ulster Unionist Party, the SDLP, the PUP and the Alliance Party deserves special recognition. 6It demonstrates the common commitment of all the parties, so far as it depends on them, to live at peace and to build not only stable structures of government but also positive social relationships in order to ensure that there will be no to return to the sterility and violence of the past.”
Referring to the recent mortar bombs at Keady, the car bomb at Newry courthouse and the murder of Ciaran Doherty near Derry, he points to the fact that there continues to exist the intent of a small faction to turn back the clock.
However, he goes on to say, “They will not succeed. The determination of the leaders of all the parties to build on the progress that has been made, together with the undoubted support of ordinary people for constructive, efficient and purposeful ‘partnership government’, will ensure that violence and division do not return to our streets.”
His statement finishes by stressing that the political leaders, “deserve the wholehearted support of everyone as they seek to accomplish, under God, the difficult task given to them.”
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