AHERN BLAIR FINALISE DRIVE AGAINST TERROR
Ahern, Blair finalise drive against terror
By BRIAN McDONALD in Cong
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday finalised a dual strategy intended to eliminate renegade terrorists from the peace equation and break down the remaining barriers to full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
The leaders met for two hours in Ashford Castle on the Galway-Mayo border, in the latest round of intensive contacts which followed the horrific Omagh bombing less than two weeks ago.
Both men reiterated their absolute determination to push forward the peace process, while implementing tough anti-terrorist legislation on both sides of the Irish Sea against hard-line paramilitaries.
Mr Blair underlined the degree of co-operation which now exists between the two governments and paid fulsome tribute to the Taoiseach's efforts in building the prospects for peace in the North.
He referred to "our joint determination'' that the terrorist activities of a small group of extremists who wanted to wreck the peace process should not thwart the will of the vast majority of people on the island of Ireland.
He refused to be drawn on the question of decommissioning arms, but pointed to the pressing need for building confidence on all sides of the political divide.
He said: "I think everybody understands that the single best hope we have is to build confidence on all sides of the community, particularly in the wake of Omagh. That's what we've got to try to achieve. Obviously, without entering into the detail of our discussions, that's what we were discussing.''
He pointed to the almost tangible sense of urgency among all parts of the community in Northern Ireland that the peace process could not be allowed to founder now.
"I think there's an obligation on all people, whatever their positions are, to do what they can to create those conditions of confidence in which we can move forward. We all know what those things can be and I remain, and have been right the way through, optimistic that we can create those conditions,'' he added.
Mr Ahern said that he and Mr Blair had taken the opportunity to assess the value of the proposed new security legislation. He believed the new measures would work effectively and he welcomed the new legislation to be enacted in Britain.
He added: "What we are trying to do is get to a situation where the terms of the agreement will be implemented fully and, of course, that means that we must work towards the Assembly meeting again next month and work towards some time time thereafter that the executive will be up and running.''
"Today we have cleared in our own minds how we can endeavour to do that. It will not be easy but I think we are clear on the strategy that we have to operate. Otherwise we will not make progress.''
Asked about media reports of a secret meeting on Tuesday of the republican splinter group behind the Omagh bombing atrocity, the Taoiseach said he presumed that followed from the preliminary statement made last week in which the group said they were ceasing their activities and were to carry out a consultation process with their membership.
"Needless to say, I hope that we will shortly hear from them that there will be a complete cessation of all their evil acts that they have tried to use against nationalist and unionist areas over this summer.
"They have been involved in the most horrendous deeds and I think nothing short of a clear statement will be any use to the Irish Government,'' he added.
By BRIAN McDONALD in Cong
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday finalised a dual strategy intended to eliminate renegade terrorists from the peace equation and break down the remaining barriers to full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
The leaders met for two hours in Ashford Castle on the Galway-Mayo border, in the latest round of intensive contacts which followed the horrific Omagh bombing less than two weeks ago.
Both men reiterated their absolute determination to push forward the peace process, while implementing tough anti-terrorist legislation on both sides of the Irish Sea against hard-line paramilitaries.
Mr Blair underlined the degree of co-operation which now exists between the two governments and paid fulsome tribute to the Taoiseach's efforts in building the prospects for peace in the North.
He referred to "our joint determination'' that the terrorist activities of a small group of extremists who wanted to wreck the peace process should not thwart the will of the vast majority of people on the island of Ireland.
He refused to be drawn on the question of decommissioning arms, but pointed to the pressing need for building confidence on all sides of the political divide.
He said: "I think everybody understands that the single best hope we have is to build confidence on all sides of the community, particularly in the wake of Omagh. That's what we've got to try to achieve. Obviously, without entering into the detail of our discussions, that's what we were discussing.''
He pointed to the almost tangible sense of urgency among all parts of the community in Northern Ireland that the peace process could not be allowed to founder now.
"I think there's an obligation on all people, whatever their positions are, to do what they can to create those conditions of confidence in which we can move forward. We all know what those things can be and I remain, and have been right the way through, optimistic that we can create those conditions,'' he added.
Mr Ahern said that he and Mr Blair had taken the opportunity to assess the value of the proposed new security legislation. He believed the new measures would work effectively and he welcomed the new legislation to be enacted in Britain.
He added: "What we are trying to do is get to a situation where the terms of the agreement will be implemented fully and, of course, that means that we must work towards the Assembly meeting again next month and work towards some time time thereafter that the executive will be up and running.''
"Today we have cleared in our own minds how we can endeavour to do that. It will not be easy but I think we are clear on the strategy that we have to operate. Otherwise we will not make progress.''
Asked about media reports of a secret meeting on Tuesday of the republican splinter group behind the Omagh bombing atrocity, the Taoiseach said he presumed that followed from the preliminary statement made last week in which the group said they were ceasing their activities and were to carry out a consultation process with their membership.
"Needless to say, I hope that we will shortly hear from them that there will be a complete cessation of all their evil acts that they have tried to use against nationalist and unionist areas over this summer.
"They have been involved in the most horrendous deeds and I think nothing short of a clear statement will be any use to the Irish Government,'' he added.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/121
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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