Sinn Fein Accepts Blair's Offer
The leader of Sinn Fein Gerry Adams has accepted the offer by Tony Blair to get
talks moving again on the future of Northern Ireland. Mr Adams has said that arrangements are already underway to meet government officials and he is looking forward to discussing "core issues" with British and Irish governments.
Mr Adams statement came within hours of Mr Blair's announcement in Belfast that officials could meet Sinn Fein as part of moves to try and rebuild the peace process in Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister said meetings could take place "provided events on the ground here and elsewhere do not make that impossible" - a warning that there must be no IRA outrages while any talks were on-going. Mr Adams said that Sinn Fein had contacted the British to arrange a meeting, which could be held as early as next week.
However, the Sinn Fein leader said he could not speak for the IRA or guarantee a ceasefire. "We have neither the responsibility or the authority or the ability to negotiate a ceasefire." he said.
Mr Adams stressed that the British must recognise Sinn Fein's electoral mandate and involve the party in dialogue on the same basis as all the other parties.
"Because of our commitment to the search for a
lasting peace and without prejudice to our democratic mandate, we will be taking every opportunity, particularly with the two Governments, to address the core issues central to the creation of a meaningful and inclusive process of peace negotiations." he said.
Sinn Fein Dissappointed In "Pro Unionist Emphasis"
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McGuinness: Pro Unionist emphasis
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Previously Sinn Fein dismissed the Prime Minister's remarks on Northern Ireland as "pro-Unionist" although there was never any real doubt that the offer would be accepted.
Martin McGuinness, the MP for Mid-Ulster and one of Sinn Fein's leading strategists said earlier "Many nationalists will be disappointed by the pro-Unionist emphasis in Mr Blair's speech."
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme in response to his party's acceptance of the offer, Mr McGuinness said Sinn Fein wanted to meet officials to find out if there was a route for the party into multi-party talks, so that it could put the case for a new ceasefire to the IRA.
"What we have to do is establish in these discussions with British Government
representatives whether or not we are going to have on offer a real and
meaningful and credible process of peace negotiations, and if we can establish
that then we might have a case to put persuasively to the IRA... Whether or not the IRA will accept that is another matter altogether."
He also complained the Sinn Fein was being victimised at Westminster. He objected to being denied office Commons office facilitiee because he and Gerry Adams refused to take the MPs Oath of Allegiance.
Irish Premier Has No Problem With Talks Before Ceasefire Offer
Sources close to the Irish Government have insisted they are not at odds with the talks-before-ceasefire offer made by Tony Blair to Sinn Fein yesterday.
Officials in Dublin maintained there was little difference between
the Prime Minister's position, and Irish premier John Bruton's contention that
any contact with Sinn Fein had to relate to the prospects of a new ending of
terrorist violence by the IRA.
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Bruton: Welcomed Blair's comments
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A brief statement from Mr Bruton welcomed Mr Blair's comment that the Ulster "settlement train" was leaving with or without Sinn Fein.
On the talks issue, Mr Bruton said "The Irish government's policy of
contact with Sinn Fein is that there will be no routine contact, but that a
meeting may be organised with officials to discuss matters that might lead to an imminent ceasefire. We are looking for a wholehearted renunciation of force - and of threats of force."
Former Irish PM Is Cautiously Optimistic
Former Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds, who played a key role in helping
to negotiate the 17-month IRA ceasefire which collapsed with the bombing at
Canary Wharf in February last year, said he believed the new contact could lead
to a restoration of the truce, although he has reservations.
"There is such a deep level of distrust between the republican
leadership and the British Government it is going to take gestures of
confidence-building to restore the process. It can be put together."
Prime Minister In Ireland For The First Time.
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Blair: Key note speech
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Yesterday the Prime Minister flew to Northern Ireland, and was greeted by cheering crowds as he began the day in the cathedral city of Armagh, on his first visit away from Westminster since coming to power. He repeatedly dived into the crowds to shake hands. Among those wanting to see him were schoolchildren who had been given time off from their classes.
In a key note speech he said that Unionists had nothing to fear from a Labour government but warned Sinn Fein that " The settlement train is leaving. I want you on that train. But it is leaving anyway and I will not allow it to wait for you. You cannot hold the process to ransom any longer. So end the violence now.
"I want to hear Sinn Fein's answer. And to make sure there is no danger of
misunderstanding, I am prepared to allow officials to meet Sinn Fein, provided
that events on the ground, here and elsewhere, did not make that impossible."
Mr Blair also reiterated the promise that Northern Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom for as long as that remained the wish of the majority of the people there.
He said those who wished to see a united Ireland without coercion could argue for it - but he believed that no-one alive today was likely to see that.
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