Blair to build on positive meeting with DUP

Wednesday, 17 December 2003 6:11 AM

Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to call on Sinn Fein today to urge the IRA to further decommission weapons.

Yesterday, Mr Blair held talks at Downing Street with Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

In last month's elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the DUP overtook David Trimble's pro-agreement Ulster Unionist Party as the dominant unionist party.

Dr Paisley said the talks were "extremely useful," but balked at rethinking the DUP's refusal to work with Sinn Fein, as the party remained "inextricably tied up with paramilitarism."

Mr Paisley said: "There will never be any conditions when we will sit in government with any body of people, loyalist or nationalist, who have an army, and that army is being used against democracy."

Mr Paisley and Mr Blair agreed the IRA must comply with the "acts of completion."

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness said his party wanted to see the Good Friday Agreement "implemented and implemented in full."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman described the meeting as "beginning a conversation" which would explore the meaning of the DUP's willingness to be positive on the Good Friday Agreement.

"What today was about was beginning a conversation in more detail about what their assessment is post-election and how they see the way forward.

"They have said in public they want to be positive. We want to explore what that means in detail.

"We should give it time. We will talk to the other parties and get their assessment along with the Taoiseach tomorrow afternoon and then we will be in a better position to assess where we are going."

Mr Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern will meet leaders of the other parties in Northern Ireland today in Downing Street. Sinn Fein is expected to join the meeting.

Tags: