Announcement

Parliamentarians Visit Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland

MPs see that former opponents can work together for the country's common good.

Glencree, Northern Ireland  | Monday, June 15, 2009

Photo: USAID/APAP

Afghan MPs met with Northern Ireland Assembly First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Working constructively with former adversaries to build a stable, prosperous country is just one of the challenges that Afghanistan’s Parliamentarians face every day. To strengthen the peace-building process in Afghanistan, a delegation of Afghan legislators traveled to the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland, learning from government and non-government actors who made peace in Northern Ireland a reality.

The group met with some of the most active and staunch leaders from The Troubles, with whom they spoke about peace building and reconciliation.  This included a joint session with Northern Ireland Assembly First Minister Peter Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party) and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin).  Assembly members presented lessons learned from the conflict and peace process, showing that former opponents can work together for the country's common good.  The MPs also learned how formal peace agreements can make the reconciliation process tangible, and that former militia can become part of the peace process through transition to non-violent political activities.