McGuinness tells Irish Americans war is over

Martin McGuinness, The Deputy First Minister in the new power-sharing government at Stormont, has told an American audience “The war is well and truly over”.
Speaking at at the opening of the prestigious annual Smithsonian Festival in Washington, Mr McGuinness added that he had visited the US on many previous occasions, but this time it was different.
“I am here not just as the representative of one part of the community, today I am proud, honoured and humbled to speak to you as the joint leader of an administration which represents our entire society. A society not just in transition but in transformation; a society moving from division to one united in our celebration of diversity.”
Talking further about the building a better future for all he added “For decades, indeed centuries, our history was one of conflict, division and war. That part of our history is at an end. The war is well and truly over.”
A large presence of cultural and trade delegates from Ireland are gathered at the festival in the National Mall, including musicians, dancers, sports coaches, mural artists, cooks, biomass technicians, historians and drum makers.
Mr McGuinness told the Smithsonian audience: “When you meet our performers and participants you will see at first hand the vibrancy, diversity and creativity of our cultural life and its influence here in the United States and I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised. Our two traditions are serving together in a new government. It is a government that is about change, about building, about progress, about promoting a confident and capable the north of Ireland and I believe there is no limit to what we can achieve together,”
The American people will see that innovation is central to development and will be the springboard for the North’s future prosperity, Mr McGuinness added.
“As we look to the future with hope, expectation and realism, we need only reflect on our common heritage to realise the potential for future relationships between our two countries.”
However the number of delegates in attendance has come under severe criticism back in Belfast.
David Ford, leader of the Alliance Party, said it was ridiculous so many were away from their posts.
“They should be here in the Assembly focussing on their work before the summer recess. It is time the Executive got serious and got down to real work instead of most of them taking a trip to the US,”.

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McGuinness tells Irish Americans war is over