Arriving for the ‘The Spirit of ’95: The Next Twenty Years’ event, hosted by the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformat


Arriving for the ‘The Spirit of ’95: The Next Twenty Years’ event, hosted by the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University Belfast are White House advance staff Brady Williamson, Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, Ambassador Kathleen Stephens and Queen's University Belfast Vice-chancellor Professor Patrick Johnston. On a brisk and clear Belfast night, 20 years ago, the President of the United States stood in front of City Hall and spoke about the road to peace to more than 75,000 people. That night, 30 November 1995, there were no factions, no separate traditions, no divided communities, no walls—just a shared history, some of it tragic, and a shared future that all hoped would be brighter. With two children and the people of Belfast, President Clinton lit a Christmas tree for peace. The road to that night was long and tortuous and, since then, it has taken twists and turns but it has been a road to peace. What will the next 20 years hold? Queen’s University, which played a role in that historic visit, will host a symposium to celebrate that first visit of an American President to Northern Ireland but, even more importantly, to look at the continuing prospects for peace and economic prosperity in Northern Ireland. The symposium will include a short film on the 1995 visit and brief presentations from several participants. Its focus will be the future and how the lessons of the past can be applied to the challenges of today and tomorrow. While it will be a time for reflection, it even more will be a time for addressing the next 20 years.


Size: 3840px × 5760px
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Photo credit: © Paul McErlane / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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