Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Watch again: Biden arrives in Belfast for visit marking 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement

Holly Patrick
Tuesday 11 April 2023 21:04 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Watch again as Joe Biden arrived in Belfast on Tuesday, 11 April, for a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

In 1998, then-UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair and then-Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern signed the agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, in a peace deal made to largely end 30 years of conflict - the Troubles.

The conflict, beginning in the late 1960s, was between republicans who wanted Northern Ireland to become part of a united Ireland and unionists who wanted it to remain within the UK.

Around 3,532 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

The Good Friday Agreement was made between the British and Irish governments and eight political parties in Northern Ireland.

US Senate majority leader George Mitchell helped broker the deal, chairing talks between parties and groups.

The agreement acknowledged the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as a part of the UK, but established a principle of consent which meant that a united Ireland could be established if and when a majority of people in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland wanted it.

Click here to sign up for our newsletters.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in