"In this historical day, we express appreciation for all the politicians who made brave steps towards the creation of a stable and peaceful society". The common declaration made known by the four religious leaders of Northern Ireland, yesterday evening, opened with those words. The four leaders were: Archbishops Seán Brady and Alan Harper, Presbyterian moderator David Clarke, and Methodist President Ivan McElhinney. The declaration took place on the occasion of the launch, in Belfast, of the coalition government made up by the representatives of the two Catholic and Protestant communities. During the ceremony, taking place in the presence of the English Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and of the Northern Ireland premier, Bertie Ahern, the premier of the new government, Ian Paisley, leader of DUP, the bigger Protestant party, and Vice Premier Martin McGuinness, number two of the most important Catholic party, Sinn Fein, sworn with the ten ministers of the new government (six Protestants and four Catholics) "to serve the whole Northern Ireland people in the same way, with no religion distinction". (To be continued)
