Failed Northern Ireland talks resume

Wednesday, 22 October 2003 12:00 AM

Talks on how to proceed with the peace process are to resume in Northern Ireland today, following a disappointing end to the day yesterday.

David Trimble, the leader of the Ulster Unionists, has signalled his optimism going into new discussions today, suggesting that a deal for devolution can be resurrected after he scuppered plans yesterday.

Efforts to restore devolved government to the people of Northern Ireland appeared to reach a climax yesterday, with agreements being reached on how to get there. However, success turned to failure late in the day when Mr Trimble dismissed the latest IRA efforts on decommissioning.

The British Government announced yesterday morning that elections for Stormont would take place on the 26th of November, following their suspension earlier this year. The announcement was intended as the first of a series of co-ordinated steps among significant figures.

A second step was a call for support for the political process by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, which was followed by an IRA announcement that a new act of decommissioning would take place.

Later in the day General John de Chastelain, the decommissioning adjudicator, reported that there had been new quantities of weapons decommissioned. However, Ulster Unionist chief David Trimble attacked this process for a lack of transparency.

Mr Trimble raised the concern that without wider publication of details about what weapons were put beyond use, unionists would struggle to trust the process. This will be vital to him as his pro Belfast agreement party faces opposition from the anti agreement unionists of the DUP.

The original agreement grants the IRA confidentiality over details of weapons decommissioned, though both Tony Blair and Ireland's Bertie Ahern played down Mr Trimble's comments as little more than a glitch.

Discussions today are expected to focus on the issue of confidentiality with Mr Trimble now demanding that such 'constraints' be removed. This will lead to difficult talks as the Good Friday Agreement backs the IRA position on this issue, and the republican movement will want to avoid appearing to bend to unionist demands.

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