Northern Ireland's Arch-Enemies Declare Peace: Advanced

Northern Irelands arch-enemies declare peace
Level 3 Advanced
1
Key words
Fill the gaps in the sentences below using the following key words from the text.
devolved
defer
watershed
loathing
pledge
accord
protracted
mar
discord
mindful
1. If you ____________ something, you postpone it until a later date.

2. ____________ is another word for spoil.
3. An ____________ is a formal agreement between two countries or groups.
4. ____________ is a state of disagreement between people.
5. If you are ____________ of something you are conscious of it and careful about it.
6. If power is ____________ it is transferred from a central authority to a local one.
7. ____________ is a strong hatred of someone or something.
8. If a process is ____________, it continues for a longer time than is normal or necessary.
9. A ____________ is a serious and public promise to do something.
10. A ____________ is an event that causes an important change to take place.
What do you know?
Fill the gaps using these words and phrases from the text.
Downing Street
Stormont
Sinn Fin
DUP
uprising
chancellor
1. The Irish Republican party is called ____________.

2. The Northern Irish political party that wants to remain part of the UK is called the ____________.
3. The Northern Irish parliament building is called ____________.
4. The British prime minister lives at Number 10 ____________.
5. The British finance minister is known as the ____________.
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Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2007
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6. The Easter ____________ in Ireland took place in 1916.

Northern Irelands arch-enemies
declare peace
In the past, Mr Paisley declared, the

government has set arbitrary deadlines but
now ... we as a party have agreed the timing,
setting up and working of the institutions. We
have agreed with Sinn Fin that this date will
be Tuesday May 8 ... After a long and difficult
time in the province I believe that enormous
opportunities lie ahead ... I want to make it
clear that I am committed to delivering not only
for those who voted for the DUP but for all the
people of Northern Ireland. We must not allow
our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies
of the past to become a barrier to creating a
better and more stable future. In looking to that
future we must never forget those who have
suffered during the dark period from which we
are, please God, emerging.
Mr Adams welcomed the DUPs commitment:

While it is disappointing that the institutions
of the Good Friday agreement have not been
restored today, I believe the agreement reached
between Sinn Fin and the DUP ... marks the
beginning of a new era of politics on this island
... The relationships between the people of
this island have been marred by centuries of
discord, conflict, hurt and tragedy ... We have all
come a very long way in the process of peace
making and national reconciliation. We are
very conscious of the many people who have
suffered. We owe it to them to build the best
future possible. It is a time for generosity, a time
to be mindful of the common good and of the
future of all our people.
Both parties will go together to the chancellor,

Gordon Brown, in the coming weeks to seek
a larger financial package for the province.
Mr Paisley said the parties said they would
engage in preparatory work ahead of May 8 to
ensure local ministers hit the ground running.
In case the significance of the moment had
escaped notice, the DUP leader emerged from
the meeting grinning broadly and shouted to
journalists waiting below in the great hall at
Stormont: Do you have eyes in your head?
Owen Bowcott, Ireland correspondent

March 27, 2007
1 Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams sat side by side
yesterday to announce they had reached
agreement to share power from May 8 in
a devolved Northern Ireland government.
The appearance together of arch-enemies
- delegations from the Democratic Unionist
Party and Sinn Fin - in a televised statement at
the end of a meeting in Stormont constitutes a
watershed in the provinces politics. The private
negotiating session, lasting little more than
an hour, was the first time the two parties had
held direct talks. It enabled both sides to issue
statements pledging political cooperation and the
start of a new and peaceful era.
2 The accord between the veteran unionist
firebrand and the leader of a militant republican
movement that once killed opponents was
welcomed in London and Dublin as the defining
moment in 10 years of a protracted peace
process. Emergency legislation will be introduced
in the British parliament today to enable a
smooth transition. The devolved government
should be operating before Tony Blair leaves
Downing Street.
3 The meeting had been arranged to discuss
the DUPs reluctance to enter a powersharing executive before the deadline of
midnight yesterday. DUP politicians said they
needed more time for Sinn Fin to validate its
commitment to supporting the police. The sixweek deferment will also help DUP members
adjust to change.
4 The agreement came in the first-floor members
dining room at Stormont. The atmosphere was
described as cordial and constructive. The
Sinn Fin leader wore an Easter lily badge,
commemorating those who died in the 1916
uprising. There was no handshake.
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Level 3 Advanced

Level 3 Advanced
8 In London the prime minister said: In a sense,
everything that weve done over the last 10
years has been a preparation for this moment.
This wont stop republicans or nationalists being
any less republican or nationalist, or making
unionists any less fiercely unionist. But what it
does mean is that people can come together,
respecting each others point of view, and share

power, making sure politics is only expressed by
peaceful and democratic means.
Guardian News & Media 2007
First published in The Guardian, 27/3/07
3 Comprehension check
Choose the best answer according to the information in the text.
1. Why was the agreement to share power such a surprise?

a. Because the government had set a deadline.
b. Because it will be operating before Tony Blair leaves Downing Street.
c. Because the two sides had previously been arch-enemies.
2. What was Gerry Adams view of the agreement?

a. That it was the beginning of a new era in Irish politics.
b. That it reflected centuries of discord, conflict and tragedy.
c. That it was good that the agreement restored the institutions of the Good Friday agreement.
3. What was Ian Paisleys view of the agreement?

a. That it was a barrier to a better and more stable future.
b. That it would provide enormous opportunities in the future.
c. That it was only of use for those who voted for the DUP.
4. What was Tony Blairs view of the agreement?

a. That it will stop nationalists being so nationalist.
b. That it will enable people to share power and respect each others point of view.
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c. That it will be another 10 years before everything is ready.

Level 3 Advanced
4 Vocabulary 1: Find the word
Find these words and expressions in the text.
1. A noun meaning a period of time with a particular quality or character. (para 1)
2. An adjective meaning using extreme and sometimes violent methods to achieve political or social change.
(para 1)
3. A noun meaning someone who has strong feelings of anger and often expresses them. (para 1)
4. An adjective meaning very experienced and skilled in a particular activity. (para 1)
5. A formal adjective meaning friendly. (para 3)
6. An adjective meaning not based on any particular plan. (para 4)
7. A noun meaning a new and friendly relationship with a previous enemy. (para 5)
8. A four-word expression meaning to be fully prepared for something from the very start. (para 6)
5 Vocabulary 2: Verb + noun collocations
1. share
a. someones point of view
2. hold
b. an institution
3. introduce
c. legislation
4. set
d. a better future
5. set up
e. agreement
6. reach
f. talks
7. build
g. power
8. respect
h. a deadline
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Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column.

Level 3 Advanced
6 Vocabulary 3: Prepositions
These words can all be followed by prepositions. Fill the gaps and check your answers in the text.
1. mindful _______
2. conscious _______
3. committed _______
4. adjust _______
5. a barrier _______
6. preparation _______
7. vote _______
8. relationship _______
7 Discussion
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What are the main reasons for conflicts around the world? What solutions are there?

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Northern Irelands arch-enemies declare peace

1. If you ____________ something, you postpone it until a later date.

What do you know?

1. The Irish Republican party is called ____________.

NEWS LESSONS / Northern Irelands arch-enemies declare peace / Advanced

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2007

6. The Easter ____________ in Ireland took place in 1916.