KEY POINTS:
More than a decade of a long and tortuous Northern Ireland peace process is due to reach a triumphant culmination in Belfast on Tuesday when unionists and republicans form a new powersharing government.
Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be on hand to witness what is
regarded as a milestone designed to provide political underpinning to the cessation of violence.
News organisations from all over the world are in Belfast for the occasion, which will see installed at the Stormont Assembly an administration headed by the two largest parties, the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein.
Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness are to take office as First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Of ten departmental ministries, four will be held by the DUP and three by Sinn Fein.
One of the high spots of the day will come after ministers are sworn in, with four politicians - Messrs Blair, Ahern, Paisley and McGuinness - appearing together.
A delegation from the US will include Senator Edward Kennedy.
There is still a sense of wonderment in Belfast that two such lifelong antagonists should have reached common ground on any major point, let alone agreeing to run a government together.
But the breakthrough came last month with an election which consolidated the domination of the two parties and meant that only they could head a new government.
A hugely symbolic moment followed, with Mr Paisley and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams pictured announcing that they would work together.
That, together with the surprisingly cordial relationship established between Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness, has raised hopes that the peace process can finally deliver both the ending of violence and political stability.
Reaching this point has meant surmounting many crises, and while many more are anticipated, today's establishment of powersharing is regarded as a landmark.
The widespread view is that there is so much support for the new system, both among the public and in almost every quarter of the political classes, that the two big parties will be working strenuously to ensure it survives.
For Sinn Fein and the DUP it offers direct political power over important issues.
DUP ministers will head the departments of finance, the economy, the environment, and culture and leisure.
Sinn Fein will have education, agriculture and regional development while smaller parties will handle employment, health and social development.
While individual ministers have much power, an intricate array of checks and balances have been built into the new system.
In addition the work of each department will be scrutinised by a committee headed by Assembly members from parties different to that of the ministers.
Powers over policing have yet to be transferred to Belfast, but may follow in the next few years.
For Mr Blair and Mr Ahern this occasion will highlight the fact that, whatever other controversies and unfinished business feature in their careers, the Irish peace process will universally be seen as a major accomplishment on their part.
On the eve of the new administration taking power, Mr Paisley attempted to step up pressure on Gordon Brown to supply more money.
He said in an interview: "There's no use having a nice vehicle sitting in your driveway if you haven't the fuel to put into it.
It will not move an inch.
It might be nicely polished.
It might be beautiful looking but it is not going to do anything."The First Minister-designation said Northern Ireland's major difficulties included challenges in the economy, a crisis in education, tax issues and attracting new investment.
He added: "Out there, there is great hype right now where everybody seems to think everything is wonderful.
What I am trying to say as First Minister is this - look, we're not in paradise." But using a notably constructive tone, he declared: "I would like to see a good hard-working Parliament here, with good speeches and people dedicated to do what they have been sent here to do.
There is talent in the Assembly and I want to see the talent of everybody used to the maximum for the good of Northern Ireland and all of its people."
Gerry Adams said: "There is huge goodwill for the return of the powersharing institutions in the north and growing support for our proposals to build an Ireland of equals."
- INDEPENDENT
