Blair bids for Irish peace deal

Wednesday, 8 December 2004 12:00 AM

Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern travel to Belfast on Wednesday hoping to witness the historic signing of a peace deal between loyalists and republicans in the province.

This now appears unlikely, so the leaders are instead preparing to publish the negotiation document for the people of Northern Ireland to judge for themselves.

Talks went on late into the night on Tuesday as the Democratic Unionists pressed for the publication of photographic evidence of IRA weapons decommissioning, the key sticking point holding up the restoration of devolved government.

Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein leader, said his party was ready to share power with unionists as the fundamentals of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement had been successfully defended by his party.

Sinn Fein has asked the British government to reduce the number of troops in the province from their current level of 13,000.

Power sharing at Stormont was suspended in October 2002 amid allegations that the IRA was operating a spying ring at the assembly.

Mr Adams reiterated his belief that the IRA would give up its weapons but would not allow itself to be "humiliated" on the issue.

"I do not expect Ian Paisley or the DUP or the unionist paramilitaries to submit to such a process of humiliation," he said.

However, Mr Adams offered some hope that a way could be found around the current impasse.

"The IRA is I believe going to make an initiative which has the ability to deal with concerns that have been raised by people who have a genuine interest."

But in a cautionary note, he added the IRA's "support" for a comprehensive agreement would be "hugely painful" for Irish republicans and nationalists.

"None of us is in any doubt about that. So I am appealing to republicans to be thoughtful and measured in responding to any future developments as they have been through decades of struggle."

Mr Ahern on Tuesday confirmed IRA representatives had met John de Chastelain, head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, with discussions "ongoing".

In a sombre note, he told the Irish parliament; "There is one major difficulty, and I don't see the resolution in that, quite frankly."
Mr Blair and David Trimble, leader of Ulster Unionist Party, also held talks at Downing Street on Tuesday.

Offering some prospect of a breakthrough, Mr Trimble said there could be "significant developments" in the peace process on Wednesday.

He said there was "no doubt" power sharing would be restored within days or weeks.

Mr Trimble said: "I hope at the same time the other parties in the discussions will be able to indicate their position and stand up the commitments that are contained in the current document the Government is working on."

Tags: