The North's First and Deputy First Ministers, Mr David Trimble and Mr Seamus Mallon, have urged that 2000 be the period when a permanent and recognisable peace is established in Northern Ireland.
Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon in their joint millennium message looked forward to 12 months of opportunity and progress. They pledged to do all in their power to ensure that the new administration delivered tangible results in all its areas of responsibility.
"Each of us has a role to play in the new society that is under construction. There will be difficulties along the way, but with a common sense of purpose we will achieve that goal," they said. They urged people to share in their vision of everyone working together to make Northern Ireland "a better place to live - a place where everyone will have the chance to be the success in life they want to be".
"It is a vision that sees us as a stable society with a confident, outward-looking people, eager to play their part in Europe and the wider world," Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon said.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, in his new year message, said the coming period was one of hope and momentous change.
He warned however: "It won't be easy. There are those who fear change and who are doggedly opposed to equality and justice. None of us should underestimate the difficulties that lie ahead.
"Our collective task must be to face down the wreckers and to make change irreversible, to see human rights protected and equality for all citizens become a reality, and to build a political system that guarantees freedom and justice for all of the Irish people."
Mr Adams said he believed the best way of achieving these goals was in a "free and independent" Ireland. "Our efforts of recent years, and particularly recent months, means that the new century, the new millennium, opens with the real prospect of achieving our goals," he said.
The Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, in his message said that the Christian message of peace and goodwill was needed in the world more than ever.
"In Ireland we have a brand new start, North and South, east and west. Some of the time it will be hard to understand what is happening, but I believe we can achieve a land more at peace with itself than at any time in the past 1,000 years," Dr Eames said.
"As we approach this third millennium, may we hear the old message with fresh ears and turn to our brothers and sisters around the world with peace and reconciliation in our hearts," he added.
The Presbyterian Moderator, Dr John Lockington, said that despite "all the media hype and commercial exploitation" there was something exciting about being alive at the beginning of a new millennium.
He said it was through knowing God that lasting joy, permanent peace and constant contentment were achieved. "That's the message which brings stability, hope and confidence whatever the future holds for us," added Dr Lockington.
The Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore, Dr Harold Miller, said that after years of division, pain, violence and uncertainty there was the possibility of a new future "for our land".
"Although we recognise that 1st January, 2000, will look pretty well the same as 31st December, 1999, yet everything will be different. We will be at a new beginning in history, living in a province which is experiencing a new beginning in its life," he added.
"No longer will we accept the ways of the past which have destroyed us and damaged our witness to Christ. We are set on a new course, which must lead to peace, respect and a future of prosperity and hope for our children and our children's children.
"These are our dreams, our much longed-for hopes, which no politician, paramilitary or preacher dare shatter. They are our hopes for a province which embraces some of the characteristics of God's kingdom - where the lion lies down with the lamb, spears are turned into pruninghooks, and people `study war no more'," Dr Miller said.
The outgoing chairman of the Confederation of British Industry in the North, Dr Christopher Gibson, said: "The true test for all of us now is just beginning, that of forgiving while not forgetting, creating new partnerships while not forsaking our principles, becoming reconciled with each other while recognising differences and even celebrating them."
Mr Francie Mackey, of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, said the organisation was resolved to upholding the Irish republic, not as an aspiration but as a political reality.
"Republicans make no apology for our noble stance and we challenge the pro-treaty parties to justify their position and their feeble attempts at portraying that national self-determination has taken place, when in fact the first choice of the Irish people is still being denied them," he said.
