LASTING peace can be achieved in Northern Ireland only through negotiation, Senator Edward Kennedy has told a conference of political leaders in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The gathering, for political leaders from Ireland and Britain, is being held at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and is the brainchild of the US ambassador to Ireland, Ms Jean Kennedy Smith.
"One of the greatest challenges facing democracies today is to make their diversity an asset, not a threat. The motto of the United States, from the beginning of our country, has been e pluribus unum out of many, one. We haven't always lived up to that ideal, but we've tried to", Mr Kennedy said.
During this time of "great difficulty and dashed hopes in Northern Ireland", the willingness of political representatives to participate in talks demonstrated their commitment to working for lasting peace.
"Only by talking with one another, negotiating with one another and most of all, respecting one another can lasting peace truly be achieved in Northern Ireland."