Res. No. 1087 Title Resolution urging British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Government of the United Kingdom to immediately schedule free and democratic elections in Northern Ireland. Body By Council Members Gioia, Addabbo, Brewer, Comrie, Foster, Gentile, Lopez, Moskowitz, Quinn, Sanders and Stewart Whereas, On April 10, 1998, the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom, along with political party leaders from Northern Ireland, reached a peace accord, known as the Good Friday Agreement, that provided for the devolution of government in Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom to local institutions, the creation of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive Committee and the establishment of a democratically elected Assembly in Northern Ireland; and Whereas, On May 7, 1998, the Queen of England and the British Parliament enacted the Northern Ireland (Elections) Act of 1998, an Act that made provisions "for the establishment of the New Northern Ireland Assembly and for the election of its members;" and Whereas, In a referendum held on May 22, 1998, the people of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland voted overwhelmingly in favor of the process outlined in the Good Friday Agreement; and Whereas, In accordance with the Northern Ireland (Elections) Act of 1998, elections for members of the Northern Ireland Assembly were scheduled to take place on May 1, 2003, only to be postponed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair until May 29, 2003 and then again until the Fall 2003; and Whereas, The decision by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to suspend the democratic elections in Northern Ireland stands in complete contrast to the efforts by the United Nations, the United States and other democratic nations, including the United Kingdom, to ensure free elections around the world; and Whereas, The right to vote constitutes the fundamental basis of the democratic process and open, fair and timely elections are vital components to the maintenance of a true democratic society; and Whereas, In order to ensure that the peace process in Northern Ireland continues to go forth it is imperative that free, open and democratic elections are held as soon as possible so that the people of Northern Ireland can have a venue for expressing their rights and preferences about self-governance; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City New York urges British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Government of the United Kingdom to immediately schedule free and democratic elections in Northern Ireland; and, be it further Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls for a copy of this resolution to be forwarded to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and to the British Ambassador to the United States, Sir David Manning. Body LS# 3325 RA - 10/9/2003 H:/word/resolutions/gioia/ls#3325 |1013| |1013|