US President Joe Biden speaking at Ulster University in Belfast
The 46th president of the USA was speaking at the Ulster University’s new campus in York Street during a whistle stop visit to the North of Ireland before heading to the Republic for a series of engagements.
President Biden said that in politics, “if we look hard enough”, there’s always areas that bring people together.
He referred to the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell by the New IRA in Omagh and paid tribute to the five main political parties in the North Belfast for coming together afterwards.
In February, Det Ch Insp John Caldwell was shot several times by two gunmen as he was putting footballs into his car boot after coaching a youth training session.
“Northern Ireland will not go back and the enemies of the peace will not prevail.”
Biden said that an “effective devolved government that reflects the people of Northern Ireland, and is accountable to them, that works to find ways to face hard problems together will grow greater opportunities for the region”.
“I hope the Assembly and the Executive will soon be restored” along with opportunities to facilitate relationships between the north and south, he says.
“That’s a decision for you to make, not for me to make.
“Northern Ireland will not go back, pray God.”
Mr Biden told the audience that the North of Ireland’s GDP has more than doubled since 1998.
The US president predicts it’ll “more than triple” if things continue to “go the right way”.
He says American businesses have generated $2bn in investment in the region and the country is a “shrine of creativity”.
Biden also spoke about Brexit and said he knew the UK’s departure created “complex challenges” in the North of Ireland.
He said he would “encourage” leaders in the UK and the EU to address the issues in a way that serves the North’s best interests.
Biden added that he appreciates the “personal leadership” of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen to reach an agreement on the Windsor Framework.
He said the agreement offers “stability and predictability” and encourages greater investment in the North.
In his closing remarks, Biden said “compassion” is the real power of the Good Friday Agreement.
He said the North of Ireland was “transformed” and “made whole” by peace.
He pledged that the US will continue to be Northern Ireland’s partner in “building the future that the young people of our world deserve”.
“It matters to us, to Americans, and to me personally,” he added.
He concluded by sayin 25 “extraordinary years” should be celebrated by recommitting to renewal and repair and by making peace the birth right of “every child of Northern Ireland for all the days to come”.
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