About their efforts to broker ae peace guillen highlighted challenges in the lead up to the agreement. [applause] thank you. Established guests, lady, for being here to witness this historic and of thank you for your warm reception, it is a great honor and pleasure for me and my wife, heather to be here with you today. Im especially grateful to the chancellor and vice chancellor and hisis staff here at queens university. They worked long and hard to organize this weeks events. Theyve welcomed all of us, citizens of Northern Ireland, teachers, school children, media, politicians, all of us extraordinary hospitality. Thank you hillary and ian for what youve gone and done in this conference. Twentyfive years ago the people of Northern Ireland and their leaders changed the course of history. It was a day when his three opened itself to hope. The people of Northern Ireland supported, worked for and established democratic peaceful process as their preferred form of governance. They overwhelmingly rejected Political Violence as a way to resolve their differences. If history teaches us anything, it is that history itself is never finished. On the evening the agreement was reached, i commended the men and women who wrote and signed it but i also said it would take other leaders in the future to shake card and extend their work so it has. I am here with many others to sound that bill one more time. Life is changed for every human being, for every family, for every government, for every society. All human beings, every single one of us is probable is are all human organizations and institutions. Human affairs, the answer to every problem in a new problem. Today a quarter century after the agreement, the people of Northern Ireland continue to wrestle with their doubts, differences, disagreement. This course is only natural and they will continue to do so no matter how successful their political leaders are. The answer is not perfection or permanence, its now as it was then, leaders of Northern Ireland to act with courage and vision as their predecessors did 25 years ago. To find workable answers, the daily problems of the present to preserve peace. To leave to the next generation, freedom, opportunity and the hope of a Better Future for their f children. One of the strengths of democracy is the right of all citizens to publicly disagree with and to criticize the officials and their policy but all values when carried to sextremes and become divisive if theres one bit of unsolicited advice and like to give to the people of Northern Ireland, its this. Dont always be so hard on yourselves. At the scene, never ever give up on the belief that we all can do better and better. [applause] the future becomes the present in the. Six years ago, i made one of my visits to ireland. United kingdom was wrestling with brexit in the United States we just elected president trump. While i was here, i was asked several times essentially the same question, can you comment on how terrible and upsetting politics are here in Northern Ireland . La so much anger, so much disagreement, so much distrust. In reply i said i cant week for the uk but have just come from the United States and i dont think any american is in a position to lecture other on disagreement. [applause] i spoke those words six years ago and its even more relevant today i do acknowledge a greatf sense of humor often accompanies it, people in Northern Ireland are quick to take offense. I was made aware of this dramatically in june of 1996 on the very first dayil of the all money talks. Large room filled with delicate the twoom governments can Political Parties, david m irvie congress shouted across the room to me. Senator, he said. If you to the u. S. , you must understand that. But, i asked . A smile on his face he replied, we Northern Ireland drive 100 miles out of our way to receive an insult. [laughter] like you, i laughed thinking it was a joke. [laughter] but as i looked around the room, they werent laughing. [laughter] they were nodding in agreement. Over the next few years, i witnessed firsthand unique skill of Northern Ireland politicians in the art of insulting their opponents but a wise person can always be superior to the insults he or she received. Wisdom and courage and grace and even stubborn desire help solve peace and routed down deep in the soil where it can once again grow so i say now to current and future leaders of Northern Ireland, theres much in your history and your politics that divides you but theres also much that can bring you together that can inspire you to continue what youre predecessors began a quarter century ago. Its not a sign of weakness to resolve your differences by democratic peaceful means. To the contrary, its a sign of strength and wisdom. [applause] and it clearly reflects the will of the overwhelming majority of the people of Northern Ireland. Yes, they often disagree, sometimes very strongly. Yes, they may take offense quickly but its unmistakably clear the people of Northern Ireland do not want to return to violence. Not now and notnd ever. I know each of your parties, like all Political Parties in thear world have some of what i call 100 for centers. They want everything their way all the time. To them, any compromise is a sign of weakness but i say to you recent principal compromise is essential, especially in divided societies and reflects a believe in Democratic Values that we are all in this together. [applause] there is great depth in recognizing that the only way to help us emerge from the rubble of conflict is we must learn to understand one another. We dont need to love one another, we dont need to like one another although we hope we could but we must learn to understand one another and be able to say yes toye one another especially when the easier answer is no because like it or not we are all in this together. Facing the reality of the future cleaning to the past takes strength and courage and strength and vision. Those we honor today until the qualities are a quarter of a century ago. They will be forever remembered and others will be remembered as well. One tangible memory is in these statistics according to the Northern Iron clint Statistic Agency from the side of the troubles until 1998 over 3500 people were killed and an estimated 50000 were injured in violence. Twentyfive years since the agreement was reached, there have been about 164 security related deaths dont think of these numbers, they are not. Think of them as mothers and fathers, sons and daughters whose lives were cut short or permanently impaired. Still to this day of their lives echo down through the years. So i added each and every one of these people in this home to stand in honor all of these and everyone was an individual human being. All of these lives with a moment of silence. Please stand. Thank you. Please be seated. There have been many architects in the house. It is impossible to name them all. They of course include president and secretary clinton. Im very grateful to president clinton for pointing me to serve as his representative in Northern Ireland and his unswerving support for me and the people of Northern Ireland during the long years of failure that follow until we get an agreement. Prime ministers were absolutely indispensable to the process. Vernments. Many of their predecessors helped lay the foundations for peace. They include Albert Reynolds and john major in the United Kingdom. Major played a crucial decision to establish the all party talks and to invite the independent chairman to have that process. I shared that with two extraordinary men. The late former Prime Minister of finland, and the former head of the canadian the former head of the canadian forces. Each of us was well served by smallish variational staff. For me they included hope they said,ur starring holly curry. Both governments are represented by a succession theory able ministers and officials. They included from the uk lord chesterton mejia, sir Michael Warren called murphy, jonathan powell,ff and bill jeffries. Irelands, dick spring, davidfr andrews, sean, liz odonnell, david cooney, tim oconnell and david donahue. Special recognition must of course go to the leaders of the major Northern Ireland parties. Jon q led the social democrats and David Trumbull led the unionist party. Without jon, there would not have been a peace process. Back. [applause] without David Trumbull, there would not have been a peace agreement. [applause] they were justly awarded the nobel peace prize. Lord trumbull later served as the first minister of the Northern Ireland government. He was greatly aided by several officials gorge, lord jon taylor, lord ken mugginess for donaldson. In the stl p you received strong support from several talented leaders including seamus a brilliant orator and negotiator who later became deputy first minister rogers, sean. Gerry adams the late led into and through the entire process. They were assisted by gerry kelly, Barbara Obrien and alex who is now the speaker of the Northern Ireland assembly. They were always strong and Effective Advocates for their cause. Later served for several years as deputy first minister. Doctor ian paisley was a long time and strong leader the Democratic Unionist Party at the du p withdrew from the talks and oppose the agreement. But they later re enter the process at crucial talks in st. Andrews. T. Thereafter participated activy in governance. Doctor paisley served for several years as first minister they achieved some celebrity as the chuckles brothers. [laughter] paisley was succeeded as du p leader and first minister by Peter Robinson who had met a very effective negotiator the du p in the tocsin. They ovens and were ably assisted in the talks by nigel and ian paisley junior. The Alliance Party was led by doctor jon. He and his colleagues were very effective in the tocsin he later served with distinction as the first speaker of the Northern Island assembly. And his colleague, irene bell later served in that same role. The Northern Ireland womens party led by Monica Mcwilliams and pearl sager played a vital role as indeed does all the women in all of the coalitions that stitch the threads of peace together. [applause] the loyalist parties but they played a very large role in negotiations they were david irvine and gary mcmichael. Both were outstanding and powerful advocates for peace. They were assisted by other articulate leaders like Billy Hutchinson gone. The labour party was effectively led. With the perspective of a quarter century, the strength of these leaders and the people they represented has become clear. There places in history have been assured. I now know them all as friends. The only thing that gives me pause about reading this long list of honorees is that in the dust of my memory i likely have inadvertently left out some who should have beenve included. And if so i sincerely am profoundly apologizing. I would like to ask you to stand again t to applaud these courageous men and women who brought peace to Northern Ireland with a soundno that will ring out for years to come. [applause] [applause] [applause] every true the courts of every tool idea ends up eventually and the obvious, east is a true idea. That must belong to us all. It can be installed what is more difficult than war. But it must be pursued. It is our task, the task of our children and of their children to ensure this piece so that historyel open itself to hope. Speaking of children, but in october 1997, my wife heather gave two hours andrew. My event i had been involved in Northern Ireland for nearly three years. The albany tocsin engulfed on year end a cap and there had been double meaningful rest. Late note i requested that talks about reciting a feeding rep and the ceasefires left early. The company facility, the obstacle or seem endless. Over and over again i was asked, senator hugh have failed to get an agreement, the problem . Earlier that year especially difficult. Heather and i briefly discussed that question. I told her i wanted to stay and that same question that after day saying that while it was true we had not gotten an agreement that our son andrew was born my life or responsibilities to each child to washington with president clintonsri National Security advisor. My intention was to tell him it was for first time seriously considering leaving Northern Ireland asked for his advice to request a meeting with the president to discuss the matter. By continued my close deep concern wife heather had to remain in the hospital and for a few days. It was there, we had a long and somber talk about the future. I had asked and was told that on the day of andrews birth, 61 children were born in Northern Ireland. We talked about what andrews life might be like in about the lives of the 61 children from Northern Ireland. And i told heather i was going to washington and what. Her reaction was immediate and strong. She said you have to go back ountil it ends when and where te other. If you leave now and the fighting resumes and lots of people died, you will never be able to forgive yourself. Go back, give it one last try. I will take good care of andrew. You think about the 61 children from Northern Ireland. [applause] [applause] i canceled the trip to washington. I got back to belfast i felt like coming home. Not always mean return date. Latee into the need too. Just before christmas 19 men, but the Party Leaders and tried to get them to escape. Im not emit the answers to any questions after a year end a copy of discussion and potpourri of the work of the issues that were keeping up. The meeting with bolton positive. Suddenly thehe blued turn intensely negative for the old resentments returned. The insults resumed. The meeting broke up here and acrimony. For the first time i felt a sense of defeat. Then, it quickly got even worse. A few days later, just after christmas a problem loyalist paramilitary leader of terrorist violence that threatened to end the talks and the plunge Northern Ireland back into troublesex. Negotiations. In conch. The outlets for anger for hostility and the desire for revenge. Each side blamed the other for thee escalating violence. Two parties were suspended from the talks. As we left dublin to move it was negative and the outlook is bleak. So much effort seem to be going down the drain of history. On the flight back to the u. S. My sense of defeat and despair deepens. And that i recalled heathers words one last try. I took out a pad of paper and i wrote down the draft of o the pn final intensive effort within early unbreakable deadline. I talked with my two colleagues, Prime Minister they were in full agreement. When we return to belfast in march we entered into discussions with the two governments in the eight Political Party still in the talks to getta an agreement eary unbreakable deadline for an end to the talks one way or the other. That discussion was long and difficult. Finally in late march we got an agreement on two weeks of final negotiations and crucially breakable deadline. My sense of despair gave way to a sense of hope one important reason. Late comment and no authority to impose a deadline. We could propose it as we had. But it required the approval of both governments party. The fact that party still on the talks agreed to pay deadline mentioned to me they were sincere in wanting an end to the conflict despite their deep differences in the near leap years of unproductive haggling they had just been through. They still taste very difficult issues on which they had strongly conflicting views that they did not want to return to the violence of the past. The reason for my post aint much less serious medical respite one speaker at a time. Early gears there is disorder competent delegates from 10 Political Parties hurled insults back and forth. Shouted at and insulted each other and some who regularly and loudly stormed out in protest. The dramatic a walkout is a major feature of political life in Northern Ireland. As the only thing that reminded me of the senate was the people spoke often and at very great lengths. A. [laughter] onthat took a long time to establish an orderly process. Along the way i made many mistakes. One of them was at the beginning of the talks and it was a naive in an effort on my part to be helpful. As a politician myself i knew all of them, politicians like to talk then went to listen. Foolishly he said to them if no one else will listen to you, i will be here. You will bee heard. How i regretted that. [laughter] [applause] without legs was months it was s years said the same things over and over again many talk very fast held many, many hundreds of informal meetings in my office