Tweet
PEACE AND PARTNERSHIP: THE QUEEN IN IRELAND
UK Government News
May 20, 2011 Friday 12:19 PM EST
LONDON, May 20 -- Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued the following
blog:
I've been following with close interest the visit of Her Majesty The
Queen to the Republic of Ireland. It's extraordinary to think that
the last British monarch to visit was George V, exactly a century ago
when Ireland was still part of the UK. After many decades of conflict,
the visit is evidence of the success of the peace process and the
progress that has been made in recent years.
Living in Armenia, a country with closed borders with two of its
neighbours and caught in an long-term unresolved conflict, it's hard
not to look for glimmers of hope in the success of the Northern Ireland
peace process. Of course, each conflict is different and you can't
read across directly from Northern Ireland to the South Caucasus. But
it does demonstrate that a long-running conflict can be transformed. A
small minority are still not reconciled to a constructive, cooperative
relationship. But peace and a healthy political process are the
reality now; the vast majority on both sides want to build a more
positive future, and the relationship between our the UK and Ireland
is now a strong, modern, forward-looking partnership.
The visit has recognised the difficult history for both sides in
the conflict, including the laying of wreaths at both the Garden
of Remembrance for those who fought for independence from Britain,
as well the Irish National War Memorial, commemorating the tens
of thousands who fought for Britain in World War I. And The Queen
addressed these issues in her speech at Dublin Castle on 18 May:
"Of course, the relationship has not always been straightforward; nor
has the record over the centuries been entirely benign. It is a sad and
regrettable reality that through history our islands have experienced
more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss.
"These events have touched us all, many of us personally, and are
a painful legacy. We can never forget those who have died or been
injured, and their families. To all those who have suffered as a
consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and
deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all
see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.
But it is also true that no-one who looked to the future over the past
centuries could have imagined the strength of the bonds that are now
in place between the governments and the people of our two nations,
the spirit of partnership that we now enjoy, and the lasting rapport
between us. No-one here this evening could doubt that heartfelt desire
of our two nations."
For her part, Irish President Mary McAleese said "The harsh facts
cannot be altered nor loss nor grief erased but with time and
generosity, interpretations and perspectives can soften and open up
space for new accommodations," She commented that Britain and Ireland
are "forging a new future - a future very, very different from the
past, on very different terms from the past - and I think the visit
will send the message that we are, both jurisdictions, determined to
make the future a much, much better place."
No one doubts the challenges in transforming the current conflicts
and closed borders in the South Caucasus. But I hope this historic
visit can serve as a healthy reminder to all sides that that even
long-running and seemingly intractable conflicts and division can be
overcome and that reconciliation is possible.
From: A. Papazian
UK Government News
May 20, 2011 Friday 12:19 PM EST
LONDON, May 20 -- Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued the following
blog:
I've been following with close interest the visit of Her Majesty The
Queen to the Republic of Ireland. It's extraordinary to think that
the last British monarch to visit was George V, exactly a century ago
when Ireland was still part of the UK. After many decades of conflict,
the visit is evidence of the success of the peace process and the
progress that has been made in recent years.
Living in Armenia, a country with closed borders with two of its
neighbours and caught in an long-term unresolved conflict, it's hard
not to look for glimmers of hope in the success of the Northern Ireland
peace process. Of course, each conflict is different and you can't
read across directly from Northern Ireland to the South Caucasus. But
it does demonstrate that a long-running conflict can be transformed. A
small minority are still not reconciled to a constructive, cooperative
relationship. But peace and a healthy political process are the
reality now; the vast majority on both sides want to build a more
positive future, and the relationship between our the UK and Ireland
is now a strong, modern, forward-looking partnership.
The visit has recognised the difficult history for both sides in
the conflict, including the laying of wreaths at both the Garden
of Remembrance for those who fought for independence from Britain,
as well the Irish National War Memorial, commemorating the tens
of thousands who fought for Britain in World War I. And The Queen
addressed these issues in her speech at Dublin Castle on 18 May:
"Of course, the relationship has not always been straightforward; nor
has the record over the centuries been entirely benign. It is a sad and
regrettable reality that through history our islands have experienced
more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss.
"These events have touched us all, many of us personally, and are
a painful legacy. We can never forget those who have died or been
injured, and their families. To all those who have suffered as a
consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and
deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all
see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.
But it is also true that no-one who looked to the future over the past
centuries could have imagined the strength of the bonds that are now
in place between the governments and the people of our two nations,
the spirit of partnership that we now enjoy, and the lasting rapport
between us. No-one here this evening could doubt that heartfelt desire
of our two nations."
For her part, Irish President Mary McAleese said "The harsh facts
cannot be altered nor loss nor grief erased but with time and
generosity, interpretations and perspectives can soften and open up
space for new accommodations," She commented that Britain and Ireland
are "forging a new future - a future very, very different from the
past, on very different terms from the past - and I think the visit
will send the message that we are, both jurisdictions, determined to
make the future a much, much better place."
No one doubts the challenges in transforming the current conflicts
and closed borders in the South Caucasus. But I hope this historic
visit can serve as a healthy reminder to all sides that that even
long-running and seemingly intractable conflicts and division can be
overcome and that reconciliation is possible.
From: A. Papazian