Rishi Sunak will return to Northern Ireland this week as giants of the peace process including President Bill Clinton mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast. The former US leader, his wife Hillary and Sir Tony Blair are among those taking part in events to commemorate striking the deal which helped end decades of violence.
This follows President Joe Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic last week.
The international gathering comes as efforts continue to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland between Sinn Fein and the DUP.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister will salute the “courage, imagination and perseverance” of those behind the deal when he attends the Queen’s University’s Agreement 25 conference.
Ex-US secretary of state Mrs Clinton is chancellor of the university, while other participants include key negotiator and former senator George Mitchell, ex-taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
At a gala dinner, Mr Sunak will host young people delivering “real change” by demonstrating the “spirit of the agreement”.
The PM said: “This week we continue to acknowledge the courage, imagination and perseverance of those who built the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.
“It gives me great pleasure to meet with some of the leading architects of peace and to commemorate those who are no longer with us.”
He said he will “pay tribute to young people who have continued to heal the wounds of a dark and difficult past, and those who came before them and set the groundwork for a better future”.
The visit will be Mr Sunak’s fifth to Northern Ireland since he has been in office.
