Statement from President Clinton on the Passing of Martin McGuinness

Tuesday

Mar 21

2017

Statement from President Clinton on the Passing of Martin McGuinness

Statement

Hillary and I were saddened to learn of the death of Martin McGuinness, who devoted his life to his beloved Northern Ireland. When he decided to fight for peace, Martin was calm, courageous, and direct. And when he gave his word, that was as good as gold. As Sinn Fein’s chief negotiator, his integrity and willingness to engage in principled compromise were invaluable in reaching the Good Friday Agreement. In the years that followed, he played an even more important role in ensuring that the peace would last—personally overseeing the arms decommissioning, joining the new government as the first Education Minister, and later serving as Deputy First Minister, and doing it all with a sense of humor and fairness that inspired both his friends and former foes. My lasting memory of him will be the pride he took in his efforts to improve disadvantaged schools in Unionist and Protestant communities. He believed in a shared future, and refused to live in the past, a lesson all of us who remain should learn and live by.  May he rest in peace.

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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C), Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson (L) and Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness smile after speaking briefly to the media before their meeting at the State Department in Washington, March 19, 2012. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS)

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accompanied by Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, left, and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, speaks to reporters at the State Department in Washington, Friday, March 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C), Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson (L) and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness face reporters before their meeting at the State Department in Washington March 16, 2010. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is greeted by Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, at Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. The U.S. Secretary of State met with local political leaders to dicsuss the Irish peace process. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, right, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, right, speak to the media at Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. The U.S. Secretary of State met with local political leaders to dicsuss the Irish peace process. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, centre, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, left, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness speak to the media at Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. The U.S. Secretary of State met with local political leaders to discuss the Irish peace process. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)