Foreign Minister Støre calls power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland a historic development

- Today’s restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland is a historic development and an important step towards peace in Northern Ireland, said Foreign Minister Støre.

The formation of a new executive is the result of direct negotiations between parties who were previously bitter enemies. Now they will be serving together in the new executive.

- This will to set aside previous differences and form a power-sharing executive heralds a new era for Northern Ireland. What we are witnessing today holds promise of a new and better life for the people of Northern Ireland. The hope is that they will slowly but surely be able to put more than 30 years of conflict and violence behind them. The fact that they have managed to agree shows that parties that seem irreconcilable can find common ground through dialogue, said Mr Støre. 

- Even though the parties have taken a new, important step forward in purely political terms, there is still a great deal of work to be done in Northern Ireland before reconciliation is achieved. It is now extremely important for the reconciliation process that all groups are treated with respect and open-mindedness so that the process is as inclusive as possible, said Foreign Minister Støre.