evidence: In November, both the UUP and Sinn Féin announced their commitments to the full implementation of the agreement, and all other main political parties did the same. On November 18, Mitchell’s review ended, concluding that the basis for a power-sharing executive and devolution still existed, and thus that it was still possible to implement the Belfast Agreement. The UUP, whose resistance had been key, voted to support Mitchell’s decisions and endorse the Executive, pending a final decision to be made in February of 2000. Ian Paisley and the DUP completely rejected any negotiations with Sinn Féin, the SDLP, or the Irish Government, but the UUP controlled most of the Unionist vote. On November 29, Northern Ireland Assembly met and 10 ministers were appointed for the Executive. The next day, both houses of Parliament voted to approve the order for devolution, ending direct rule. The new devolved government finally became operational on December 2 of 1999. On the same day, Ireland made a historic concession by surrendering its claim on Ulster. [...] By 2006, even the most resistant to power sharing were beginning to accept the change. In response to an agreement between the British and Irish governments, even Ian Paisley showed willingness to share power with Sinn Féin as long as they made concessions on the issue of policing, which they did in January of 2007. In March of 2007, elections were held for the Assembly, and a deadline was set for the two majority parties to select their candidates for First Minister and Deputy First Minister.