the peace holds, despite political tensions in northern ireland. my guest is us congressman richard neal, a democrat and co chair of the friends of ireland caucus group. to what extent is the wider us uk relationship tied to the situation in northern ireland? congressman richard neal in springfield, massachusetts, welcome to hardtalk. pleased to be with you. well, it s a pleasure to have you on the show. what doesjoe biden s determination to be on the island of ireland to mark this 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement, what does it tell us about the priority he puts on doing what he can to maintaining the solidity of the peace there? well, i think it s a historic anniversary and i think america served as an honest broker through the negotiations and they were able through, i think, strategy and patience to bring about a successful conclusion to the agreement, recalling that before the agreement, there were 30,000 british soldiers in an area the size of our state of c
once the new president, gustavo petro, takes office in august. mr petro, himself a former rebel, has become the country s first left wing leader after winning sunday s presidential election. now on bbc news, it s hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i m stephen sackur. after a painful divorce, you never know if the ex partners will be able to build an amicable relationship. for britain and the eu, it seems the brexit break up has left a legacy of mistrust and bitterness, which is overwhelming any desire for cooperation. northern ireland is currently what they re fighting over. the uk is refusing to stick to the divorce settlement and the eu is threatening legal action. my guest is the eu ambassador in london, joao vale de almeida. is this a fight where everyone gets hurt? joao vale de almeida, welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. it s a pleasure to have you. i want to start with some words of yours from, actually, early in your posting here in london as eu ambassador. you
stick to the divorce settlement and the eu is threatening legal action. my guest is the eu ambassador in london, joao vale de almeida. is this a fight where everyone gets hurt? joao vale de almeida, welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. it s a pleasure to have you. i want to start with some words of yours from, actually, early in your posting here in london as eu ambassador. you said, we have divorced. it s always complicated to divorce and it is difficult to find a new balance. well, many months have passed since then. why are you still failing to find a new balance? well, i have no personal experience of divorce, thank god, but i m told by friends that it s always complicated. and this one has proved to be complicated, to be very frank. it was a traumatic divorce, let s be clear. we sort of co existed together for almost. ..almost half a century, and then through a democratic process, which we fully respect, a decision was taken which is a serious one with a num
liable for the sexual assault of a 16 year old girl at the playboy mansion in 1975. jurors in the civil trial ruled against him, and awarded his victim half a million dollars in damages. now on bbc news, it s time for hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i m stephen sackur. after a painful divorce, you never know if the ex partners will be able to build an amicable relationship. for britain and the eu, it seems the brexit break up has left a legacy of mistrust and bitterness, which is overwhelming any desire for cooperation. northern ireland is currently what they re fighting over. the uk is refusing to stick to the divorce settlement and the eu is threatening legal action. my guest is the eu ambassador in london, joao vale de almeida. is this a fight where everyone gets hurt? joao vale de almeida, welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. it s a pleasure to have you. i want to start with some words of yours from, actually, early in your posting here in london as eu ambassador.
stick to the divorce settlement and the eu is threatening legal action. my guest is the eu ambassador in london, joao vale de almeida. is this a fight where everyone gets hurt? joao vale de almeida, welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. it s a pleasure to have you. i want to start with some words of yours from, actually, early in your posting here in london as eu ambassador. you said, we have divorced. it s always complicated to divorce and it is difficult to find a new balance. well, many months have passed since then. why are you still failing to find a new balance? well, i have no personal experience of divorce, thank god, but i m told by friends that it s always complicated. and this one has proved to be complicated, to be very frank. it was a traumatic divorce, let s be clear. we sort of co existed together for almost. ..almost half a century, and then through a democratic process, which we fully respect, a decision was taken which is a serious one with a num