It is time to applaud an amazing achievement that marks a new path towards a prosperous, just and peaceful North, writes US ambassador Tom Foley
Amazing things do happen. One happened yesterday as unionists and republicans gathered in Belfast to form a government.
This landmark event marked both an end and a beginning. It marked the end of a long process of establishing a reliable peace and securing local control of government for the people of Northern Ireland.
It also marked the beginning of a new government that must now deliver on its promise of a peaceful, just and prosperous Northern Ireland. The road ahead will be challenging, but within the normal capacities of bureaucrats, policymakers and politicians. The road just travelled was anything but that. Yesterday was a day to reflect on what has happened and to applaud an amazing achievement.
Peace in the North was won with the contributions of hundreds of people, institutions and political events covering more than 10 years. Books can and will be written about the critical contributions of so many factors in the peace process. But one stands out as worth noting today. Northern Ireland has shown us that the noble, and rare, art of statesmanship is alive and well - and works.
Statesmanship is an amalgam of subtle, and not-so-subtle, attributes, among them leadership, patience, persistence, evenhandedness, courage and commitment to a high purpose. But statesmen and stateswomen are almost more easily defined by what they are not. They are not petty, squabbling, divisive or self-serving.
Three people critical to the peace process deserve special recognition for their statesmanship - Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern and George Mitchell. It wasn't until Britain and the Republic, with the support of the US, took a joint position favouring peace - thereby denying Northern Ireland's political factions the ability to claim support by any of these governments - that real prospects for peace began.
These three men, in their words and deeds, convinced everyone that they were serious, sought a fair resolution and weren't going to stop until they succeeded. What good fortune that Mitchell was available and chosen for his role as US peace envoy to the North, and that Blair and Ahern could apply their creative, thoughtful and persistent involvement over some 10 years - far longer than could have been expected, but which turned out to be needed.
Behind them stood a talented and committed supporting cast of policymakers, government officials, NGOs, private citizens, two US administrations and their envoys, and two presidents of Ireland.
As advocates for their communities, Ian Paisley, Gerry Adams, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have not until now been in roles calling for statesmanship, but they have showremarkable leadership. Their turn at statesmanship lies ahead in their new role representing all the people of Northern Ireland.
To fulfil the promise and expectations in Northern Ireland, the new government must stimulate and expand a stagnant economy and integrate peaceful, but still divided, communities. These are formidable challenges requiring bold policies and changes to a deeply embedded culture. But great things have already happened, so we can be hopeful that these challenges will be met as well.
The achievement symbolised by yesterday's events was brought about by hundreds of committed, thoughtful and talented people and organisations, most of whom are citizens of this island. This combination of talent, experience and statesmanship is a priceless capacity that Ireland can and should offer to others engaged in conflict.
Maybe Ireland can help other parts of the world make amazing things happen.