welcome to belfast and the lyric theatre where tonight, the play agreement will mark a moment 25 years ago that changed every aspect of life here in northern ireland forever the signing of the good friday or belfast agreement. it brought peace to northern ireland, but it has been an imperfect peace. the agreement guaranteed power sharing in government between nationalist and unionist communities. but for more than a third of its lifetime, there hasn t been a sitting government at stormont. these halls at the lyric have captured huge moments of symbolism both big and small. ten years ago, martin mcguinness, northern ireland s former deputy first minister, a former ira commander, shook hands with queen elizabeth here, a moment that would have once been unimaginable. and it is moments like that that people will be looking out for this evening when president biden arrives. here in northern ireland, words matter, and people will be looking to president biden s speech to see ho
and it is moments like that that people will be looking out for this evening when president biden arrives. here in northern ireland, words matter, and people will be looking to president biden s speech to see how he will address the political stalemate. with me now is mary kelly, a bbc producer in northern ireland in 1998. jayne mccormack is a bbc northern ireland political correspondent. dr clare rice is a northern ireland politics specialist from the university of liverpool. mary, take us back. all those years ago, it was a knife edge situation. there was a deadline as well. how did it feel? there was a deadline as well. how did it feel? that there was a deadline as well. how did it feel? that was there was a deadline as well. how did it feel? that was a there was a deadline as well. firm did it feel? that was a deadline. george mitchell, the american senator chairing the talks, insisted on a deadline to make sure he could focus attention and focus people s desire to get thin
would if stormont came back tomorrow, it would not if stormont came back tomorrow, it would not solve all the problems around would not solve all the problems around the health service and the economy around the health service and the economy and jobs, but many people would economy and jobs, but many people would just economy and jobs, but many people would just like to see something happening. would just like to see something ha eninu. ., would just like to see something haueninu. . ., happening. those are the other thins happening. those are the other things peeple happening. those are the other things people talk happening. those are the other things people talk about, - happening. those are the other things people talk about, the l happening. those are the other- things people talk about, the same issues facing people all over the world cost of living and concerns about health and education. it s been lovely to get your thoughts. we will bring you the thoughts of ma
not he on our today who would otherwise probably not be on our streets today who would otherwise probably not be on our streets through - not be on our streets through violence not be on our streets through violence and not be on our streets through violence and conflict, - not be on our streets through violence and conflict, had i not be on our streets through violence and conflict, had the not be on our streets through i violence and conflict, had the good friday violence and conflict, had the good friday agreement violence and conflict, had the good friday agreement not violence and conflict, had the good friday agreement not been - violence and conflict, had the good. friday agreement not been reached. we are friday agreement not been reached. we are talking friday agreement not been reached. we are talking significant friday agreement not been reached. we are talking significant numbers, i we are talking significant numbers, in the we are talking significant nu