The US Congress Ad-Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs has praised the decision by Sinn Fein to endorse the Belfast Agreement and has expressed gratitude for the efforts of Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness.
Asked about opposition within the unionist community to the agreement, Mr Richard Neal, a committee co-chairman, said: "I believe Adams and McGuinness and John Hume have all kept their part of the bargain and it is now up to the unionist side to keep theirs."
Another co-chairman, Mr Peter King, said that he was concerned at what seemed like growing unionist opposition, and that Mr David Trimble was now "paying the price" for not preparing his constituency for the agreement. But it was to be hoped he would still get it through.
The statement issued by the cochairmen - Mr Neal, Mr King, Mr Ben Gilman and Mr Tom Manton - said that Sinn Fein's "courageous decision to participate in a new Northern Ireland Assembly was greeted warmly by those on both sides of the Atlantic who share your goal of peace and reconciliation in Ireland". The unity demonstrated by Sinn Fein "brings added momentum to a process that offers the best hope for peace in a generation".
The statement praised "the commitment and vision of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness", saying "the remarkable leadership that you have demonstrated over many years has made this historic opportunity possible. Your significant contribution to the talks process may finally bring about a peaceful resolution to a long and bitter conflict."