The Belfast Agreement that went into force 20 years ago, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, ended the long, bloody conflict in Northern Ireland. Most parties supported the agreement. The people of Northern Ireland and of the Irish Republic approved it in two referenda, and its leading architects John Hume and David Trimble were awarded the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize months after the signing.

The governments of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic signed the agreement, and both the Unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and their Republican rivals pledged to implement it. The deal included disarming all militias within a few years, a commitment to ending the conflict by democratic means and establishment of an autonomous government in Belfast with equal representation of Catholics and Protestants. It also stipulated that the Legislative Council could only approve proposed laws with a Republican and a Unionist majority, and British sovereignty would be eased — for example, by disbanding the British army units in Northern Ireland. However, the Northern Irish autonomy would remain under UK sovereignty until residents vote in a referendum on whether to remain part of the United Kingdom or join the Irish Republic.

This temporary agreement with no end date in sight was probably convenient for all sides. It granted Northern Ireland a proto-state status with most of the characteristics of independence, and restored calm. By avoiding a final status decision, the sides prevented a renewal of the violent clashes between them.

I came away from talks I had in the past with the head of the autonomous government, First Minister David Trimble, and with others on both sides of the divide, with the impression that no one was in a hurry to reach a permanent agreement and that the interim deal was best for all. The agreement, to which then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair devoted much time and energy, was balanced down to the minutest detail, and the young leader was very pleased with his achievement. From him, too, I understood that everyone would be just fine with the interim status for a very long time.