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Provisions of the "Good Friday" Agreement

The agreement is laid out along three strands:

Strand One: Democratic Institutions in Northern Ireland
· An elected, 108-member, provincial assembly will replace direct rule from London. Using proportional representation, members will reflect the makeup of the population of the province. Safeguards will protect the rights and interests of all sides of the community.
Strand Two: North/South Ministerial Council · A council will be established to bring together those with executive responsibilities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to discuss matters of mutual interest on a cross-border and all-island basis. The purpose of the council will be to exchange information and to reach agreement on the adoption of common policies.
· Areas for North-South cooperation and implementation may include the following:
· agriculture
· education
· transportation
· environment
· waterways
· social security/social welfare
· tourism
· relevant European Union programs
· inland fisheries
· aquatic and marine matters
· health
· urban and rural development
Strand Three: British-Irish Council
· A British-Irish Council will be established to promote cooperation and enhanced relationships among the peoples of the British Isles.
· Membership will include representatives of the British and Irish governments, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
· Issues under discussion may include transport links, agriculture, environment, culture, health, education, and the European Union.
· The Council will meet twice a year.
In Addition:
· The people of Northern Ireland will be free to choose their political status. While the current majority prefers to maintain union with Britain, any future change in the majority opinion will be respected.
· The Irish government will remove from its Constitution the territorial claim on Northern Ireland.
A commission has been appointed to review the sentences of and encourage early release of prisoners held on terrorism-related charges.

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