Good Friday Agreement: NI peace deal took courage - Sunak

The prime minister has said an event in Belfast later will be an opportunity to thank the negotiators of the Good Friday Agreement for their courage.

Rishi Sunak will give the closing speech at a three-day conference at Queen's University marking the 25th anniversary of the peace deal.

The prime minister said the "leading architects of peace" had "set the groundwork for a better future for the people of Northern Ireland".

He was speaking at PMQs.

"We will also commemorate those who are no longer with us," he added.

Mr Sunak will be joined by US, European and Irish dignitaries in the final session at Queen's.

Afterwards he will host a gala dinner attended by political leaders and international dignitaries.

As part of his address to Agreement 25 on Wednesday, he will hail the agreement as "one of the most extraordinary political achievements of our lifetimes".

"Courage, imagination, and perseverance. Those qualities brought an imperfect but enduring peace to a place taught to believe no such peace was possible," the prime minister will tell delegates.

"To all those who led us to that peace, including those here in this hall and those no longer with us - let us take this moment to say to you 'thank you'."

It is also expected Mr Sunak will reaffirm his ambition for Northern Ireland to attract greater investment and highlight its thriving cyber and life sciences sector, as well as its financial services and creative industries.

"I will use the full force of the UK government to help you make this one of the best places in the world to start and grow a business, create jobs, train and learn new skills, and attract investment," he will say.

In a matter of hours Rishi Sunak will bring this week's mammoth series of events to a close.

He's already referenced the anniversary during prime minister's questions ahead of boarding a flight across the Irish Sea.

Security is becoming tighter as the campus prepares to welcome a VIP cast list with Rishi Sunak, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen topping the billing.

The prime minister will then head to Hillsborough where it's understood he'll hold meetings with the Stormont party leaders before a gala dinner.

Presidents of the European Council and European Commission Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen will also speak on the final day of the three-day conference.

The dinner on Wednesday night will be the culmination of events marking the anniversary.

It is understood a number of former prime ministers will be among those attending.

Also on the guest are former US President Bill Clinton and his wife, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who have been in Belfast this week for the conference.

Former US Senator George Mitchell - who chaired the peace talks - as well as former taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Bertie Ahern, will be involved.

Representatives of Northern Ireland's political parties, the Irish government, as well as EU and community representatives will also be there.

The events follow US President Joe Biden's visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland last week.

This week the Clintons, who have been long-time supporters of the Northern Ireland peace process, have been visiting Northern Ireland, paying tribute to those who helped make the agreement possible.

On Tuesday evening, Bill Clinton told an event at the Guildhall in Londonderry that the leaders behind the agreement, David Trimble and John Hume, "put their lives and careers on the line" for peace.

The Good Friday or Belfast Agreement was a political deal designed to bring an end to 30 years of violent conflict known as the Troubles.

Signed on 10 April 1998 and approved by public votes in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it is based on the idea of co-operation between communities.

It helped to set up a new government for Northern Ireland, representing both nationalists and unionists.