Ireland Peace Talks

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, against opposition both within the U.S. and in the countries involved in the Ireland conflict, President Clinton remained consistent and compelling in his assertion that a third party, the U.S., and a radically different approach towards peace was undeniably necessary in the Ireland Peace talks. The author points out that, during his term, he actively worked with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, convincing him finally to allow Sinn Fein leaders into the peace talks. The paper relates that Clinton's diplomacy was responsible only partially for the decline of terrorism in Ireland during the 1990's because, demographically, Ireland is tipping rapidly towards a Catholic majority, making attacks from the IRA and other Republican paramilitary groups far less frequent.

From the Paper:

"President Bill Clinton became involved in 1993 after a winning presidential campaign pledging to help end the violence in Ireland. Against the past policy of the United States, Clinton stepped in, arguing primarily for the rights and demands of Catholics in Ireland. Behind the back and against the will of the British, "Rarely in the history of Anglo-American relations has the White House...supported Irish demands against Great Britain"4, he began organizing a series of peace talks, bringing together over the course of several years the leaders of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State ('Southern Ireland'), and, countering the advice of the Irish Prime Minister, worked intensively on a network of compromises that would yield a cease-fire and eventually a level of peace between Northern Ireland, the Irish Free State and Britain."

More papers on Ireland Peace Talks:

• Research Paper # 7057 : "Conflict in Norther Ireland"
• Term Paper # 118653 : "2000 Camp David Talks"
• Narrative Essay # 3779 : "Poetry of Peace and Pain"

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