FACING REALITY
Facing reality
CLINTON VISIT: Decommissioning must be the priority
EVEN before he has set foot in Northern Ireland, there are signs that President Clinton's forthcoming visit is quickening the pace in local politics. The call by the mainstream IRA for the dissident Real IRA grouping to disband is clearly timed with the Presidential visit in mind. But this attempt to distance the Provisionals from those behind the Omagh massacre would be more convincing if it was coupled with movement on decommissioning.
Instead, the IRA says its position on decommissioning remains unchanged. In other words, it has no intention of handing over any weapons or explosives. The IRA must realise that its intransigent stance on this issue, allied with its refusal to declare that its war is over, threaten the successful implementation of the Good Friday agreement.
With the new assembly due to meet for the first time a fortnight today, the deadlock over decommissioning must be broken. Nobody can cherry-pick from the agreement, and it is vital that the rapid progress being made on the early release of prisoners is matched by action on the dismantling of terrorist arsenals. How can First Minister David Trimble be expected to work alongside Sinn Fein in government if there is no sign that the IRA is going to hand over its arms?
The disclosure in this newspaper that the Ulster Unionist Assembly group has said that as things stand, it could not endorse the Belfast agreement should not be ignored. Unionists clearly feel they have gone as far as they can, and are now imploring the government to secure movement on paramilitary weapons. It is an issue which must no longer be ducked, and the ball is in the republican movement's court.
Another raw nerve for the IRA is the question of 'the disappeared'. The latest IRA statement is long on rhetoric but short on action, and the claim that a 'special unit' has been set up to locate the graves would be more credible if it was accompanied by some specific information. The bereaved families have been put through an unimaginable ordeal over many years and all they want to hear now from the IRA is precisely where the bodies of their loved ones are hidden.
During his visit, President Clinton must give a fresh impetus to the Belfast agreement. Although the accord has been endorsed by the people and by parliament, there are still considerable problems to be overcome. The President may have lost some of his charisma, but he can still fulfil a positive role by concentrating minds, and by focusing on decommissioning, and reminding everyone, not least of all Sinn Fein, that this is an integral part of the deal.
When he comes to Northern Ireland this week, President Clinton will find the atmosphere considerably less upbeat that on the occasion of his last visit in November 1995. At that time the air was one of optimism, and there was a real will to move the peace process forward. Some of that heady optimism has evaporated, and, while hope persists, there is now a more realistic appraisal of what is possible.
CLINTON VISIT: Decommissioning must be the priority
EVEN before he has set foot in Northern Ireland, there are signs that President Clinton's forthcoming visit is quickening the pace in local politics. The call by the mainstream IRA for the dissident Real IRA grouping to disband is clearly timed with the Presidential visit in mind. But this attempt to distance the Provisionals from those behind the Omagh massacre would be more convincing if it was coupled with movement on decommissioning.
Instead, the IRA says its position on decommissioning remains unchanged. In other words, it has no intention of handing over any weapons or explosives. The IRA must realise that its intransigent stance on this issue, allied with its refusal to declare that its war is over, threaten the successful implementation of the Good Friday agreement.
With the new assembly due to meet for the first time a fortnight today, the deadlock over decommissioning must be broken. Nobody can cherry-pick from the agreement, and it is vital that the rapid progress being made on the early release of prisoners is matched by action on the dismantling of terrorist arsenals. How can First Minister David Trimble be expected to work alongside Sinn Fein in government if there is no sign that the IRA is going to hand over its arms?
The disclosure in this newspaper that the Ulster Unionist Assembly group has said that as things stand, it could not endorse the Belfast agreement should not be ignored. Unionists clearly feel they have gone as far as they can, and are now imploring the government to secure movement on paramilitary weapons. It is an issue which must no longer be ducked, and the ball is in the republican movement's court.
Another raw nerve for the IRA is the question of 'the disappeared'. The latest IRA statement is long on rhetoric but short on action, and the claim that a 'special unit' has been set up to locate the graves would be more credible if it was accompanied by some specific information. The bereaved families have been put through an unimaginable ordeal over many years and all they want to hear now from the IRA is precisely where the bodies of their loved ones are hidden.
During his visit, President Clinton must give a fresh impetus to the Belfast agreement. Although the accord has been endorsed by the people and by parliament, there are still considerable problems to be overcome. The President may have lost some of his charisma, but he can still fulfil a positive role by concentrating minds, and by focusing on decommissioning, and reminding everyone, not least of all Sinn Fein, that this is an integral part of the deal.
When he comes to Northern Ireland this week, President Clinton will find the atmosphere considerably less upbeat that on the occasion of his last visit in November 1995. At that time the air was one of optimism, and there was a real will to move the peace process forward. Some of that heady optimism has evaporated, and, while hope persists, there is now a more realistic appraisal of what is possible.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0326
Published Date: 31-Aug-98
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