THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                           (Istanbul, Turkey)
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For Immediate Release                                  November 18, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

The parties in Northern Ireland, working with George Mitchell, have taken a powerful step toward lasting peace. I warmly welcome Senator Mitchell's final report, and support his conclusions fully. We should all take heart from the fact that the parties have strongly reaffirmed their commitment to the Good Friday Accord. In a spirit of unprecedented mutual understanding, they have addressed issues of deep concern to one another. Together, they have shaped the outlines of the way ahead, as described by Senator Mitchell today. I urge the parties to maintain this level of dialogue with each other and with the public at large in the days ahead, and to proceed with rapid implementation of the Agreement. Once again, I want to express my deepest appreciation to Senator Mitchell for his dedication to bringing peace to Northern Ireland.

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