Political actors from both communities joined a study visit on November 6-11, 2023, within the context of the Cyprus Dialogue Forum (CDF), aimed at immersing participants in Northern Ireland’s journey from conflict to negotiations, to agreement and implementation, and to where things stand today.
Participants included representatives of Greek Cypriot political parties AKEL, DISY, DEPA, Greens, Turkish Cypriot political parties CTP, DP, HP, UBP, and former chief negotiators. The study visit took place in the context of the project supporting the Cyprus Dialogue Forum, funded by the European Union and implemented by Northern Ireland Cooperation Overseas (NI-CO) and the CDF Secretariat.
According to a press release by the CDF, the study visit allowed participants to walk through Northern Ireland’s journey to peace in its entirety, taking in the historicity of the various stages of the peace process, highlighting not only what has worked but also the complexity and challenges of reaching and implementing the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
Participants had the opportunity to hear from seasoned Irish diplomat Mr Tim O’Connor about the historical and political background of the conflict, and the philosophy behind the design of negotiations to reach an agreement.
Participants were also welcomed by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr Alex Maskey, and had the opportunity to hear about issues relating to the implementation of the agreement.
Meetings were held with the formal institutions established in the different strands of the agreement, including the Northern Ireland Assembly, Northern Ireland Executive Office, North South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat and some of the North-South implementation bodies.
In the final part of the programme, participants heard from political actors involved in the peace process as well as from major political parties in Northern Ireland, including Sinn Fein, DUP, SDLP, UUP and Alliance. Interlocutors shared their views on the peace process and its implementation, 25 years after the peace agreement was signed, and on where they see things stand today.
The study visit took place with the understanding that each peace process is different and that any process needs to be shaped based on its specific historical and political context as well as the complex set of relationships between its actors.
As one former participant in the Northern Ireland peace process noted: “While every situation is different, every situation has echoes of each other.” With this understanding, it was recognised by all participants that lessons can be drawn from both the successes and challenges experienced in the Northern Ireland case – both in the process leading up to agreement and in its implementation. There was an understanding among all participants of the need to continue the dialogue and reflection upon their return to the island.
All interlocutors from Northern Ireland echoed that the peace process is a journey, a living process, one that started with efforts leading up to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and that, 25 years on, requires nurturing, engagement and mutual accommodation between its actors.
