Mal Fletcher comments

Ireland as a whole, I said, needs a new generation who will not accept that the way things are is the way they must always be.

At the time, I wondered whether they really believed that things could change in Northern Ireland. Obviously, just 13 years later, I can see that there were people who believed this - enough to sow their lives into seeing a change.

A great many people have invested their energies into seeing the new era emerge. Church leaders, community and business leaders have sown much into getting politicians to talk and find solutions.

I've just returned from hosting a summit of European church network leaders in Spain. The 2020Conference looked at the future of Europe and how churches can play a positive role in shaping it for good.

Among the most important things said at the forum was that to effect change, we must join the discourse of the culture. Leaders must ask: 'What is the culture talking about?' and then come alongside with helpful suggestions which provoke curiosity.

We can only change a culture when we start talking creatively about what the culture is talking about.

Clearly, a number of leaders - in all spheres of society - have started taking that step in Northern Ireland. They've heard the heartbeat of the vast majority of their people and offered helpful ways to fulfil their aspirations.

The new arrangement will require more than the smiles and handshakes we've seen from political leaders over the past few days. Each side will need to practice give and take politics if this is new arrangement - ten years in the making - is to succeed.

The months ahead will reveal just how sensitive are the leadership to their peoples' passion for peace - and their willingness to forgive past crimes in the interest of creating a better future.

We should never underestimate the power of hope, even in the sometimes sordid world of politics. For those still living in very troubled parts of our world, the message is plain: don't give up on hope.