With his term of office drawing to a close, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Dr David Alderdice, yesterday reviewed the progress achieved by the city council over the past 12 months in an address to guests at City Hall.
In a speech entitled "Belfast - What State Are We In?", Dr Alderdice urged the people of the city to unite and become more inclusive. "United we stand, divided we fall . . . There is a new way of operating that benefits all of us," he told the gathering.
Dr Alderdice said that progress had been achieved among the city's councillors, who, irrespective of party affiliation, now gathered for an occasional drink after council meetings. This was something which had been unheard of before last October. The council had begun to work together, which was important, since a united front helped to attract inward investment.
The audience was shown a video montage of events over the past 12 months, including the visit of President Clinton and his wife, Hillary, the city's New Year celebrations and business trade shows aimed at attracting investment.
Dr Alderdice voiced concern that visitors to Belfast would leave with a negative impression of the city after seeing sectarian murals painted on so many gable walls. "They leave me cold, depicting guns and threats," he said.
According to Dr Alderdice, the citizens of Belfast were no longer insular in their outlook and were now "showing an interest in the global village". The hosting in Belfast earlier this month of the "State of the World Forum", a major international conference, had held the city "up to the light", he said, adding: "I don't think we were found wanting."
Belfast City Council is due to elect a new lord mayor next week.