Good Friday Agreement

The Good Friday Agreement - less commonly known as the Belfast Agreement, was a peace agreement signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998. The agreement was a major factor in the Northern Ireland peace process. The agreement transformed the constitutional and legislative arrangements between the U.K, Ireland and North Ireland. The British-Irish Council was formed as a result of the agreement and was established in 1999. This allows for representatives of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the United Kingdom to meet and peacefully discuss common concerns.

1. Signed: April 10, 1998
2. Sometimes called "The Stormfront Agreement"
3. Opposed by only the Democratic Unionist Party
4. Was a 65 page document
5. The Equality Commission and Human Rights Commission were created under the agreement
6. Repealed the Government of Ireland Act of 1920

• United Kingdom
  • Guardian Unlimited: Blair ready to suspend Stormfront (October 10, 2002)
  • CNN.com: British, Irish leaders push for Northern Ireland agreement (July 1, 1999)
  • CNN.com: Blair tries to jump-start Northern Ireland peace process (December 2, 1998)
  • BBC News: Peace deal 'extraordinary opportunity,' says Blair (April 12, 1998)
• Bill Clinton
  • BBC News: Clinton 'still backing' Agreement (May 24, 2005)
  • The New York Times: Clinton, in Ulster, Confronts Warring Passions Head-On December 14, 2000)
  • CNN.com: Clinton to make last push for Northern Ireland peace December 11, 2000)
  • Guardian Unlimited: Clinton tells Ulster 'don't turn back' (October 3, 2002)
• Northern Ireland
  • Monsters and Critics: Profile: Martin McGuinness - from IRA commander to... (May 8, 2007)
  • Wikipedia: Ian Paisley: The 1998 Belfast Agreement: No
  • Telegraph: Northern Ireland's past has become its future (November 30, 2003)
  • Guardian Unlimited: Paisley: Agreement Must be Destroyed (April 29, 2003)
  • BBC News: Sinn Fein should take oath- Paisley (December 22, 1999)
  • BBC News: McGuinness adamant on arms (April 7, 1999)
  • The New York Times: Sinn Fein Negotiator Predicts Success of Peace Talks for Ulster (January 18, 1999)
  • BBC News: The guns could go - McGuinness (September 26, 1998)

• Democratic Unionist Party
  • Wikipedia: Democratic Unionist Party | DUP and Belfast Agreement
  • Official Site: Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
  • BBC News: DUP not contesting anti-accord seats (January 28, 2001)
  • CNN.com: IRA move condemned by unionists (August 14, 2001)
• Irish Republican Army
  • The New York Times: Northern Ireland's Reversal (February 12, 2000)
  • The New York Times: I.R.A. Blames Britain for Breakdown of Peace Accord (July 23, 1999)
  • CNN.com: IRA willing to negotiate disarmament (November 17, 1999)
  • BBC News: UK Politics IRA can bring peace - Trimble (April 12, 1999)