Facing History: Establishing Peace in Northern Ireland‪.‬

MO MOWLAM is Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Maya Angelou has written, "History, despite its wrench and pain, cannot be unlived. But if faced with courage, it need not be lived again." The people of Northern Ireland took the poet's words to heart and have faced their history with courage in 1998. They voted to support a peace agreement that represents a radical departure from the past, and, determined to succeed, embraced the challenges and opportunities of a new future. By the end of February 1999, a great deal has been achieved. But there is still a long way to go before permanent peace is attained, with many hurdles to surmount. An agreement as far-reaching and comprehensive as was achieved on April 10 last year--Good Friday--will take many months, possibly years, to cement. The agreement will need to stand against the pressures created by decades of hatred and fear between Northern Ireland's communities. Thus, it is far too early to talk about drawing "lessons" from Northern Ireland's recent experience. Nevertheless, there are some signs we can point to, and factors that have contributed along the way, which are worth highlighting even at this early stage.