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Your guide to what US elections in 2024 mean for Washington and the world
The writer is a former American special envoy to northern Ireland
There is every IR on St. Patrick's Day. Or he says. Donald Trump, like all other American presidents by Ronald Reagan, invited the leader of the Irish government to celebrate the celebration in an oval office. Mutual toasts and ritual presentation of the Shamrocks bowl is a symbol of American involvement – politically, cultural and economically – with Ireland. When Trump's administration stops on a long American partnership with Europe about mutual security and trade, there is no better evidence of the mutual benefits of continuing this relationship than the transformation of Northern Ireland.
From 1968 to 1998, more than 3,500 people died and an estimated 50,000 was injured because the sectarian conflict known as problems raged all over Northern Ireland. In 1995, President Bill Clinton appointed former senator George Mitchell as a special envoy to find a common ground between trade unionists and nationalists and lure US investments to offer economic opportunities and reduce tensions between communities.
During countless hours of listening, cajoling and nudging Mitchell, along with other officials, he helped to swear to the enemies to see another way forward. This resulted in an agreement on a big Friday of 1998. More than 71 percent of voters referendum in Northern Ireland supported this, as well as more than 94 percent in the country.
Of course, problems do not end with a peace agreement. Fortunately, the American involvement is also not. On a bilateral basis, each subsequent administration appointed a special envoy to build on the agreement, demilitarize paramilitic groups, solved calls with police and support economic growth. I hope President Trump will soon name his own envoy.
This engagement matters. Today, in northern Ireland, it has more than 1,500 international companies, including more than 280 based in the US. The region is the world's leading investment destination for American companies in the field of cyber security and the main center for industry industry industry industry as a blockbuster Grade. The Trade Agreement between London and Brussels will show off for advanced manufacturing companies looking for an effective access to the market for exports from the US and others. Unemployment is 1.6 %. With Belfast's legislator, after a 24 -month break, the pieces are finally placed in the puzzle.
Yet the greatest success in Northern Ireland – a gradual reduction in conflict based on identity policy – cannot be measured only by economic indices. It reflects the power of engagement.
America has always provided a public and private place for political and community leaders from both sides of the abyss. Meanwhile, cooperation in politics and business has helped to support cooperation on the Earth-Pr outlet lesson in our own polarized political ecosphere.
The old guard of the Northern Ireland's leadership retreated a new generation. The meeting of Northern Ireland is now led by two women, Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin and Emma Little-Pengelly of Dup. Their altitude led to a noticeable change in tone in political discourse. Each leader makes a deliberate effort to express that the future of Northern Ireland is large enough to adapt to the differences. Tolerance accelerates the way to prosperity.
Northern Ireland is now a safer, stronger and prosperous place due to a consistent and permanent bipartisan involvement of the American government and because the American business and academic leaders have achieved through the Atlantic to support Peace.
Today, at a time when a commitment to cross cooperation is introduced to ensure peace, safety and economic growth in Europe, we should think about the lessons of our unfinished work in northern Ireland.
