THERE was no hunger for a return to violence in either community in the North, the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, said at the launch of the European Pence University's first centre in Ireland yesterday.
Mr Reynolds said that he had been in Belfast 10 days ago and had met both sides to the conflict: he was very hopeful at what he had learned from them.
Everyone there, he said, was awaiting with great interest the publication by the British government of the guidelines to cover the elections and future talks.
These are due this week.
"There is no hunger for going back to violence and if we can get through this, I can see a total end to violence in the future. If people can sit down and talk, a lot can be achieved", he said.
"If we can get them around the table we can look forward to a restoration of a complete cessation of violence. There is now a historic opportunity to find peace in Ireland and that should be grasped."
Mr Reynolds was speaking in Dublin at the announcement that the European Peace University is to establish a centre in Breffni Lodge, Dromahair, Co Leitrim.
He said he was sure that the centre, located close to the Border, would supplement and enlarge the debate on peace in Ireland.
Dr James Skelly, academic coordinator of the European Peace, University, said the university had been established in Stadtschlaining, Austria, with the backing of the Austrian government in 1988. Seven years later, another centre of the EPU was established in Benicassim, a small resort in Spain.
Dr Skelly said the opening of the Irish centre in Dromahair was consistent with the practice of the EPU, which preferred to base itself - small centres of population, away from the distractions of large urban centres. Students and staff lived together in small communities, Dr Skelly said.
The Leitrim centre will open in September and there will be accommodation for 35 students. The three centres teach the same course, leading to an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies.