Northern Ireland
For the last quarter century, London and Dublin have tried to come up with a political settlement to the stop the bloodshed in Northern Ireland but each bid has so far failed to get
agreement from both sides.
In April 1998, Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern held talks aimed at rescuing the peace process from last-minute wrangling at the
table and fresh violence on the streets.
Last year, some progress was made in efforts to bring an end to violence in Northern Ireland with the resumption of peace talks in September. But progress on the peace front has not put an end to the sectarian violence that has plagued Northern Ireland for decades.
The struggle to determine the fate of Northern Ireland is between the minority Catholic nationalists, who envision of a unified Irish nation, and the majority Protestant unionists, who are determined keep Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.
Unionists and nationalists killed more than 3,000 people in sectarian fighting between 1969 and 1994, with much of the violence taking place on English soil. Fighting over the six counties that comprise Northern Ireland began almost immediately after their partition from the rest of Ireland in 1920.
The latest plan drafted by Blair, Ahern and peace talks chairman, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, wants Northern Ireland to be governed by Protestants and Catholics together in an assembly at Stormont. Sinn Fein opposes that part of the plan because the party doesn't accept the right of Northern Ireland to exist.
To placate Sinn Fein's militant Catholic supporters, the plan also proposes that the Belfast assembly cooperate formally with the Irish Republic in a cross-border council of lawmakers.
Sinn Fein and its larger moderate rival for Catholic votes, the Social Democratic and Labor Party, have both demanded the strong and independent cross-border council as the price for their participation in a northern assembly.
But Northern Ireland's main pro-British party, the Ulster Unionists, insist this council must have its decisions approved by the Northern Ireland assembly, where Protestants would retain a majority.
In October 1997, the Ulster Unionists, held a breakthrough face-to-face meeting with the nationalist Sinn Fein party, the political arm of the Irish Republican Army. Before the talks, militants on both sides -- the IRA and unionist paramilitary groups -- declared cease-fires.
And in a highly symbolic move in December, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was received by British Prime Minister Tony Blair at his official London residence, 10 Downing Street. The two also had met in Belfast in October.
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DEMOGRAPHICS
- Population:
- 1,631,000
THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
- Capital:
- Belfast
- Size:
- 5,450 square miles (14,120 sq. km)
- Government type:
- Constitutional monarchy (Part of the United Kingdom)
- Political groups:
- Unionists (Loyalists) -- Predominantly Protestant organizations
advocating union with Britain, including the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP), the mainstream unionist group; the Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP); and the Ulster Defence Association, which was banned by the
British government due to association with guerrilla groups which have
waged a terrorist campaign against Catholics.
- Republicans (Nationalists) -- Predominantly Catholic organizations desiring national re-unification with the Republic of Ireland, including the Social Democratic and Labour Party -- the moderate voice of nationalists -- and Sinn Fein, the party which has been associated with the Irish Republican Army (IRA), an illegal paramilitary group that considers Britain an occupying force in Northern Ireland. Alliance Party -- A middle-of-the-road group comprising both Catholic and Protestant members. It supports British rule but promotes close links with Dublin.
- Alliance Party -- A middle-of-the-road group comprising both Catholic and Protestant members. It supports British rule but promotes close links with Dublin.
- Religions:
- Protestant (53%-60%); Roman Catholic (40%-42%)
- Languages:
- English; Irish Gaelic
HISTORY
- 1607 -- British begin occupation of Ireland.
- 1801 -- Irish union with Great Britain proclaimed.
- 1919 -- Irish Republican Army (IRA) formed; begins war for independence.
- 1920 -- British Parliament divides Northern from Southern Ireland; each is given a parliament and government.
- 1921 -- While Southern Ireland gains its independence, Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom, electing 17 members of the British House of Commons.
- 1968-1969 -- Roman Catholics demonstrate against discrimination and unfavorable voting laws. IRA begins heavy bombing campaign against British targets.
- 1972 -- Britain suspends Northern Ireland's parliament and imposes direct British rule.
- 1973 -- Coalition government formed.
- 1974 -- Protestant general strike overthrows coalition government; direct British rule resumes.
- 1985 -- Hillsborough agreement gives Republic of Ireland a voice in governing Northern Ireland.
- 1993 -- Britain and Ireland announce "declaration of principles" aimed at settling "the troubles."
- 1994 -- IRA declares cease-fire.
- 1995 -- Framework document is signed.
- 1996 -- IRA abrogates cease-fire, resumes terrorist attacks.
- 1997 -- The IRA and unionist paramilitary groups resume cease-fires; Northern Ireland's main pro-British party, the Ulster Unionists, meets with its rival, the nationalist Sinn Fein party, in their first face-to-face meeting.
- 1997 -- Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was received by British Prime Minister Tony Blair at his official London residence, 10 Downing Street, in a symbolic meeting in December. The two had previously met in Belfast in October.
FINANCIAL
- Monetary unit:
- Pound sterling
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- --Belfast
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