Senator George Mitchell to give public lecture

Sunday 26 March 2000

The man behind the historic Good Friday Peace Agreement is to give a public lecture at the University of St Andrews.

Senator George Mitchell, who chaired the peace negotiations in Northern Ireland and spent an illustrious career in the Senate spanning 14 years, is to give a talk on peace in the 21st Century in Younger Hall on the evening of Wednesday 19 April 2000.

The lecture, which will be open to the public on an invitation basis, is being held as part of the James Wilson Bicentennial Commemoration in honour of James Wilson, a distinguished 18th Century graduate of the University who died 200 years ago. Wilson emigrated to America and became one of only six signers of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and was later appointed as the first Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Event organiser and postgraduate student Eric Motley said, “It is fitting that such a remarkable American statesman as Senator George Mitchell should come to St Andrews 200 years after the death of James Wilson, to help us honour the memory of one of Scotland’s greatest sons ever to leave for America. I can think of no more worthy individual to deliver this memorial lecture”./ -2-

Senator George Mitchell was appointed to the United States Senate in 1980 to complete the unexpired term of Senator Edmund S Muskie, who resigned to become Secretary of State. He was elected to a full term in the Senate in 1982, leaving in 1995 as the Senate Majority Leader, a position he has held since 1989.

More recently, Senator Mitchell served as Chairman of the peace negotiations in Northern Ireland. Under his leadership, an historic deal which ended decades of conflict was agreed by the governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom and the political parties of Northern Ireland. In May 1998, the agreement was overwhelmingly endorsed by the votes of Ireland – North and South – in a referendum. His service in Northern Ireland has led to Senator Mitchell being awarded numerous accolades and honours including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour that the US Government can give; the Philadelphia Liberty Medal; the Truman Institute Peace Prize; the German Peace Prize; and the United Nations (UNESCO) Peace Prize.

In conjunction with Senator Mitchell’s lecture, Eric Motley has re-edited and released a special limited edition pocket- sized Bicentennial Commemorative biography of James Wilson: An American Statesman 1742-1798. The biography includes greetings from US Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and a Foreword by Philip Lader, US Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Copies can be purchased for £2 from John Smith’s Bookshop – all proceeds will be donated to charity.

Senator Mitchell’s lecture will take place in the University of St Andrews’ Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews at 8pm on Wednesday 19 April 2000. Invitations (which are free of charge) can be obtained from Eric Motley on telephone 01334 425043 or via email [email protected] up until 15 April 2000.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:- You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to the event in Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews at 8pm on Wednesday 19 April 2000. Should you require any further information, please contact Eric Motley on telephone 01334 425043 or via email [email protected].

Issued by Beattie Media on behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information please contact Claire Grainger on 01334 462530, 07887 650072 or email [email protected] Ref: georgemitchell/standrews/chg/27marc h2000


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