The following is an edited version of Mr John Hume's address to the 31st SDLP annual conference.
You stand with me today just as you have stood with me over the past 31 years. Many of you have been around for longer than you may care to remember.
But never forget that you have dedicated your lives to a cause that is just. Never give up in the search for justice, hope and opportunity for all our people and for our young people in particular. Play your part.
While I speak to you today for the last time as party leader, I am looking forward to continuing to represent the people of Northern Ireland in the European Parliament and the people of Foyle at Westminster.
Since the ceasefires of 1994, we have also received €100 million a year for the Special PEACE programme and will continue to do so until 2004.
No other region in Europe has ever won this kind of support from the EU. And we should be proud of our indispensable role in putting Northern Ireland on the EU agenda.
We must not forget the political importance of the EU either. It has been an inspiration to us all in the search for peace in these islands. Later today, Seamus Mallon will address conference for the final time as deputy leader. (He) is a man for whom I - like so many people from so many backgrounds - have the utmost respect.
His commitment to peaceful and democratic politics is second to none. For over 20 years Seamus and myself have shared the helm of the SDLP. I believe that we can say with some confidence, we have done a reasonable job.
Over many years, others have come to accept that we were right. What a tragedy it is that so much violence and suffering filled the vacuum created by political inertia and inaction.
Too many lives were lost and we know those lives cannot be brought back.
What we can do now, what we must do, is ensure that no more lives will be lost, that our young people can grow up in a society that is free, democratic and prosperous.
That is our job for the years ahead. To fulfil the untold promise of the Good Friday agreement and build the new Ireland . . .
The tragic events of 11th September impacted upon the entire world. The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington were truly catastrophic. The United States of America is built upon the principles of liberty and freedom and democracy and justice.
It is absolutely right that in the defence of those principles the US should seek to bring those responsible to justice, but they must do so without causing suffering among innocent people. It is essential that those same principles, by which the American people live, are now afforded to the people of Afghanistan.
Since our formation, the SDLP has been tireless in the pursuit of our vision for a new Ireland.
So much has changed since August 1970, when we first set out that new vision for Ireland. And in the end, the SDLP delivered.
With consistency and tenacity, the SDLP promoted the idea of comprehensive negotiations embracing all of the core relationships in these islands.
The SDLP promoted the need for agreement, consensus and partnership.
Furthermore, we were the architects of the "three sets of relationships" concept that is now at the very epicentre of the Good Friday agreement.
We always stated that given that at the core of our problems were the divisions between and among the peoples of these islands, then only through the creation of institutions that recognised that diversity and respected those differences could politics be made work.
The people who were once so fundamentally opposed to any such institutions are now centrally involved in making those institutions work through the agreement.
We have been joined in our endeavour by the overwhelming majority of the people of Ireland.
Indeed, anyone who calls himself or herself a republican and yet works against the wishes of the people is doing a grave disservice to the ideals of Wolfe Tone.
The IRA initiative to put weapons beyond use to the satisfaction of the de Chastelain commission is very welcome.
It represents a massive step forward for the republican movement and has given the political process a new dynamic.
With conviction and consistency the SDLP has promoted the need for a brand new beginning for policing in the North on the basis of the Patten recommendations.
We realised that the opportunity to create that new beginning for policing in keeping with the Patten recommendations was available. That is why we decided to nominate to the Policing Board.
I want to encourage young people from all sections of the community to join the new police service.
This week's election of David Trimble and Mark Durkan as First and Deputy First Minister is a very positive development.
To those unionists who remain opposed to the agreement, I say this: I understand that you have real and legitimate concerns surrounding the future course and shape of the political process.
But I implore you to participate fully in shaping that future with the rest of us. Central to the Good Friday agreement is the principle of consent, a fundamental principle of unionism.
The SDLP has always endorsed the principle of consent. We will continue to do so.
Tomorrow a new team will be handed the job of leading the SDLP.
I have every confidence in that new leadership. Mark Durkan is a politician of outstanding ability.
He has the calibre, the integrity and the vision to lead this party into the twenty-first century.
This is indeed a time of great change for the SDLP.
This party needs to take hold of the potential of its young membership.
Similarly, we need more women at every level of the party. We must continue to demand that women and men enjoy equal opportunity. That is the standard the SDLP must set.
I want to play my part in creating an Ireland agreed in purpose and determined to build for the future, where tolerance, inclusion and mutual respect are the benchmarks of our society.
Ireland can become a great place to live and to grow. We are duty-bound to make sure it does.
I thank you for your unrelenting support in the bad days and in the good. Often, we have sailed against the wind but always we have kept our rudder true.
Keep believing. Keep working. Keep hoping. Keep striving. Keep building.
The new, agreed Ireland of our dreams is within reach. One day, "we shall overcome."