WATERFRONT STAGESHOW DRAWS MIXED REVIEWS
Waterfront stage show draws mixed reviews
Clinton wins applause but Trimble comes under fire
By Martina Purdy
BILL Clinton was the star of the show but it was David Trimble's speech that was the talk of the Waterfront Hall.
His words left a bad taste with some - and struck the right tone with others.
Mr Trimble's speech was by far the hardest hitting address - and, coupled with his sharp style, jarred with some of the Americans who complained it was not appropriate for the moment. Republicans were not impressed.
Asked if he was disappointed with Mr Trimble's comments, Martin McGuinness said only:
"Coming out of here I've heard a number of people express disappointment with his speech."
Republican Joe Cahill was more forthcoming. "He could have been more generous, especially after Gerry Adams' statement (that violence must be over and done)."
One dissident Ulster Unionist thought the speech was aimed at anti-Agreement members - those who leave the party if Mr Trimble agreed to go into government without an arms handover.
While Sinn Fein interpreted the speech bluntly, others did not and found it significant that Mr Trimble now seemed to put aside the old taboo about talking to Sinn Fein.
Said Mr Trimble: "I will work with anyone who has the good of Northern Ireland at heart."
Mr Trimble seemed to indicate he would not go into government with Sinn Fein without prior decommissioning.
He stated: "As First Minister and leader of Northern Ireland, I cannot reconcile seeking position in government with a failure to discharge responsibilities under the Agreement to dismantle their terrorist organisation."
He stressed that if violence was over and done with that there should be no need for weapons and once threats were removed there was nothing that could not be achieved.
The words "no democrat can tolerate coercive threats" were quickly added.
One listener accentuated the positive: "Mr Trimble said he would speak - that was the point."
Also, instead of promising "I will be firm" about the Agreement and decommissioning, he said "I will try to be firm." It may be that he misread the line, but there were other conciliatory tones that left Mr Trimble some flexibility.
He added: "If you take the road to peace and do so in genuine good faith, you will find me a willing leader in that journey."
Significantly, Mr Trimble omitted to read a sentence from his speech that was clearly a barb at republicans. Referring to the President's last visit when he said there was no room for guns at democracy's table, he said: "They betrayed not only you (Mr Clinton), but every one of us. That must never happen again."
Mr Trimble combined tough words with an olive branch when he said: "I say to those who are crossing the bridge from terror to democracy: 'Every move you make to peace, I will hold you to it'." While Mr Adams might yet have other hurdles to cross before relations with Mr Trimble can be "normalised", he has clearly come a long way from the days of marginalisation and demonisation.
Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, on his way to the platform, shook Mr Adams' hands before following Mr Trimble onto the stage.
Mr Clinton, for some of the loyalists in the audience, was not tough enough on republicans. One said he thought the speech was weak.
But the audience overall could not have been kinder to Mr Clinton, standing twice for the President and clapping liberally.
After the bloody and winding road to the settlement, Mr Clinton focused on the positive. Quoting from Belfast graffiti, "Is there death before life?", he looked forward to the future.
He spoke of the "magic" developing will for peace, describing the settlement on Good Friday as the "light" after the long darkness.
Clinton wins applause but Trimble comes under fire
By Martina Purdy
BILL Clinton was the star of the show but it was David Trimble's speech that was the talk of the Waterfront Hall.
His words left a bad taste with some - and struck the right tone with others.
Mr Trimble's speech was by far the hardest hitting address - and, coupled with his sharp style, jarred with some of the Americans who complained it was not appropriate for the moment. Republicans were not impressed.
Asked if he was disappointed with Mr Trimble's comments, Martin McGuinness said only:
"Coming out of here I've heard a number of people express disappointment with his speech."
Republican Joe Cahill was more forthcoming. "He could have been more generous, especially after Gerry Adams' statement (that violence must be over and done)."
One dissident Ulster Unionist thought the speech was aimed at anti-Agreement members - those who leave the party if Mr Trimble agreed to go into government without an arms handover.
While Sinn Fein interpreted the speech bluntly, others did not and found it significant that Mr Trimble now seemed to put aside the old taboo about talking to Sinn Fein.
Said Mr Trimble: "I will work with anyone who has the good of Northern Ireland at heart."
Mr Trimble seemed to indicate he would not go into government with Sinn Fein without prior decommissioning.
He stated: "As First Minister and leader of Northern Ireland, I cannot reconcile seeking position in government with a failure to discharge responsibilities under the Agreement to dismantle their terrorist organisation."
He stressed that if violence was over and done with that there should be no need for weapons and once threats were removed there was nothing that could not be achieved.
The words "no democrat can tolerate coercive threats" were quickly added.
One listener accentuated the positive: "Mr Trimble said he would speak - that was the point."
Also, instead of promising "I will be firm" about the Agreement and decommissioning, he said "I will try to be firm." It may be that he misread the line, but there were other conciliatory tones that left Mr Trimble some flexibility.
He added: "If you take the road to peace and do so in genuine good faith, you will find me a willing leader in that journey."
Significantly, Mr Trimble omitted to read a sentence from his speech that was clearly a barb at republicans. Referring to the President's last visit when he said there was no room for guns at democracy's table, he said: "They betrayed not only you (Mr Clinton), but every one of us. That must never happen again."
Mr Trimble combined tough words with an olive branch when he said: "I say to those who are crossing the bridge from terror to democracy: 'Every move you make to peace, I will hold you to it'." While Mr Adams might yet have other hurdles to cross before relations with Mr Trimble can be "normalised", he has clearly come a long way from the days of marginalisation and demonisation.
Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, on his way to the platform, shook Mr Adams' hands before following Mr Trimble onto the stage.
Mr Clinton, for some of the loyalists in the audience, was not tough enough on republicans. One said he thought the speech was weak.
But the audience overall could not have been kinder to Mr Clinton, standing twice for the President and clapping liberally.
After the bloody and winding road to the settlement, Mr Clinton focused on the positive. Quoting from Belfast graffiti, "Is there death before life?", he looked forward to the future.
He spoke of the "magic" developing will for peace, describing the settlement on Good Friday as the "light" after the long darkness.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0380
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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