Northern Ireland has turned its back on violence, and its politicians must now build a stable and strong future, First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley said today.
Speaking after his first North-South Ministerial Council meeting, the Democratic Unionist Party leader said people on both sides of the Border never wanted to return to the days of conflict and tragedy.
Dr Paisley added: "I think we have turned the corner. It is up to us to see that now we build something that will be stable and strong. It is a tall order." He said the task rested on the shoulders of the politicians and they were not shunning it.
The DUP boycotted north-south meetings during the first attempts at devolution, but its ministers entered into today's first session in five years.
Both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, hailed the meeting between ministers from Belfast and Dublin as productive and engaging.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern described the round-table talks as being "as lively and all-embracing an engagement as I have ever been at".
Mr McGuinness said there had been remarkable progress in recent months and that today's meeting had delivered yet more remarkable progress.
"I want to pay tribute to the leadership shown by the leader of the DUP, our First Minister Ian Paisley," he said. "I think he has made a very powerful contribution to bringing the position to where it is today.
"There is tremendous hope on this island. We want to end conflict on this island. I believe the First Minister and myself are part of an administration that is full of dedication and commitment to make this work, and I believe we are going to go to strength to strength," he said.
The Taoiseach added: "Remarkable progress has been made in the summer of 2007. It has been a tremendous honour to work with the First Minister and the Deputy Minister."
As a sign of his commitment, he said he had brought 11 ministers with him to the meeting. They had a constructive meeting and set a very vigorous agenda for the rest of the year, he said.
The meeting heard news of a £400 million Irish Government-funded major roads programme that will provide dual carriageway routes within Northern Ireland.
They will serve both the north west and the eastern seaboard corridor from Belfast to the ferry port of Larne ,and the Northern Ireland Executive confirmed its acceptance, in principle, to take forward the two projects.
Ministers also agreed to proceed with the restoration of another section of the Ulster Canal - part of a £100 million scheme that will eventually provide navigable water from the north of Northern Ireland through to the River Shannon and across the Republic.
The ministers agreed to a review of the workings of the various North-South bodies, and a report will be presented to them at the first meeting in 2008.