Givan began his resignation speech by saying it was “the privilege of his life” to serve as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Givan thanked those who supported him during his tenure and said:
“OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE TESTED ONCE AGAIN”
“Our institutions are being tested once again, and the delicate balance created by the Belfast and St. Andrew agreements has been influenced by the agreement between the UK government and the European Union that created the Northern Ireland Protocol. The principle of consent is the cornerstone of the Belfast Agreement and it is imperative that all segments of society soon It is my heartfelt desire that, unfortunately, they can consent to the restoration of a fully functioning government through a solution to the problems that have brought us to this point.”
UNIVERSAL DECISION TO STOP BREXIT CUSTOMS CONTROLS
Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Poots had ordered that customs checks on goods from the rest of the UK, which were required by the Brexit Agreement, to be halted from midnight yesterday.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney described Poots’ move as a “violation of international law”.
Stating that the Northern Ireland Protocol, which creates the legal basis for controls, is part of an international agreement, Coveney said, “This has been accepted and approved by the EU and the UK. Its implementation is not only an international agreement, but also a part of international law.” had used the words.
DISCUSSIVE PROTOCOL
The Northern Ireland Protocol under the Brexit Agreement regulates trade between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the EU member Republic of Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
Although the UK has left the EU, Northern Ireland remains subject to the EU’s customs union rules, according to the protocol. Trade with the rest of the UK is subject to customs at the ports of Northern Ireland.
According to the Belfast Agreement (Good Friday Agreement), which ended the war between Catholic separatists and pro-union Protestants with England, a physical land border where controls can be made cannot be established. Therefore, controls can only be made at ports.
While a passenger bus was hijacked and set on fire during the demonstrations in Belfast in April 2021 against the protocol, supporters of the union attacked the police with Molotov cocktails and stones during the events that lasted for about a week.
It is considered that if the problems related to the protocol continue, the incidents may escalate.
THE IRELAND PROBLEM
Northern Ireland, which is the part of the British Empire from the first colony of the British Empire, the island of Ireland, had been the scene of conflicts and terrorist incidents between Catholic separatists and Protestants who were pro-union with England from the 1960s to 1998. In the years known as the “Problems”, which spanned 40 years, 3,500 people lost their lives in terrorist incidents.
While the island was calmed only by the Good Friday Agreement signed in 1998, it was agreed to establish a regional government based on the partnership of the conflicting parties in Northern Ireland.
The texts, also known as the Belfast Agreement, form the basis of the regional government in force today in Northern Ireland.
Despite more than 20 years since the peace agreement, trust could not be fully established among the people of the region. (AA)