DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS ON EVE OF CLINTON VISIT
Dramatic developments on eve of Clinton visit
By William Graham
Political Correspondent
POLITICAL developments quickened last night following Sinn Fein's "violence must be over" statement - and David Trimble's invite to Gerry Adams and other leaders for talks on the way ahead.
There is speculation that today Sinn Fein will have talks with the International Decommissioning Commission which has been involved in a round of meetings with various political parties.
And First Minister Mr Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon have asked party leaders including Gerry Adams to meet them on Monday for discussions.
Details of this move followed hot on the heels of Mr Adams important statement that violence must now be a thing of the past, over, done with and gone.
Sources close to Mr Trimble's office said that next week's meeting at noon on Monday with political representatives was aimed at "discussing the way forward."
"Obviously there is going to be a lot of developments. Monday's meeting will be round-table and similar to meetings which have been going on in committees,' sources said.
It is believed that crucial behind the scenes discussions between Sinn Fein and the White House ahead of President Clinton's arrival tomorrow led to Mr Adams' message that violence must be over.
Bill Clinton comes to Belfast with the peace process considerably boosted by the Sinn Fein leader's announcement and this should inject momentum now into implementing the Good Friday agreement.
According to reliable sources the White House, and the British and Irish governments were all involved in intense step-by-step background dialogue with Sinn Fein over recent days.
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Secretary of State Mo Mowlam and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said Mr Adams' statement was a significant, positive and welcome move.
Mr Blair said it confirmed that Sinn Fein deserve to be taken seriously in their commitment to exclusively peaceful means.
The most important part of Mr Adams' statement was that "Sinn Fein believe the violence we have seen must be for all of us now a thing of the past, over, done with and gone".
This has been interpreted as meaning the war is over.
Significantly the Trimble wing of Ulster Unionism has given a cautious welcome to Mr Adams statement "as a step in the right direction".
Contrary to speculation this development will not be enough to secure an historic meeting between David Trimble and Gerry Adams to coincide with President Clinton's visit tomorrow.
Such a bi-lateral meeting and symbolic handshake should be seen as some way ahead because unionists as well as asking for a statement that the war is over demand Sinn Fein co-operate fully with the International Decommissioning Commission and that the IRA commence verifiable decommissioning.
Last night unionist sources told the Irish News that these things have to happen before they can in any way start to move towards a realistic working relationship with Sinn Fein.
"But this is a first small step in the right direction that Sinn Fein have taken since they signed up to the Good Friday agreement," unionist sources said.
In his statement headed "a cautious welcome" in direct response to Mr Adams announcement, Mr Trimble said: "Carefully crafted words alone are not enough. The people of Northern Ireland will now judge Sinn Fein on their actions over the coming days. An end to the war means the weapons of terrorism must be destroyed and all forms of paramilitary violence must cease for good."
Sinn Fein last night did not expand on Mr Adams' statement but republican sources said that the next stage to reach in the process should be the establishment of the executive and the North/South Council and implementation bodies.
Republicans view, for example, the presidential visit as an opportunity to move the process forward and have been involved in discussions with the British and Irish governments and the White House in working out agreed steps which was felt could end the impasse.
And republicans indicate also this would be hoped to be a step taken in the direction of a face-to-face meeting between Gerry Adams and First Minister David Trimble.
Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon said: "I welcome the content and tone of this statement. I trust that it can lead to a fuller understanding of the position of Sinn Fein, and that understanding can help to facilitate the inclusive and honest dialogue that is so essential to further political progress and move towards the implementation of the Good Friday agreement in its entirety."
SDLP leader John Hume said: "I particularly welcome the fact that Sinn Fein have underlined their total commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic methods stating in other words that as far as the republican movement is concerned the so-called war is over. I also naturally hope that this will now lead to direct talks between all political parties in the north."
The Democratic Unionist Party said that "the carefully choreographed statement by Gerry Adams was designed to please the White House and Downing Street" and that "the IRA remain armed to the teeth".
By William Graham
Political Correspondent
POLITICAL developments quickened last night following Sinn Fein's "violence must be over" statement - and David Trimble's invite to Gerry Adams and other leaders for talks on the way ahead.
There is speculation that today Sinn Fein will have talks with the International Decommissioning Commission which has been involved in a round of meetings with various political parties.
And First Minister Mr Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon have asked party leaders including Gerry Adams to meet them on Monday for discussions.
Details of this move followed hot on the heels of Mr Adams important statement that violence must now be a thing of the past, over, done with and gone.
Sources close to Mr Trimble's office said that next week's meeting at noon on Monday with political representatives was aimed at "discussing the way forward."
"Obviously there is going to be a lot of developments. Monday's meeting will be round-table and similar to meetings which have been going on in committees,' sources said.
It is believed that crucial behind the scenes discussions between Sinn Fein and the White House ahead of President Clinton's arrival tomorrow led to Mr Adams' message that violence must be over.
Bill Clinton comes to Belfast with the peace process considerably boosted by the Sinn Fein leader's announcement and this should inject momentum now into implementing the Good Friday agreement.
According to reliable sources the White House, and the British and Irish governments were all involved in intense step-by-step background dialogue with Sinn Fein over recent days.
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Secretary of State Mo Mowlam and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said Mr Adams' statement was a significant, positive and welcome move.
Mr Blair said it confirmed that Sinn Fein deserve to be taken seriously in their commitment to exclusively peaceful means.
The most important part of Mr Adams' statement was that "Sinn Fein believe the violence we have seen must be for all of us now a thing of the past, over, done with and gone".
This has been interpreted as meaning the war is over.
Significantly the Trimble wing of Ulster Unionism has given a cautious welcome to Mr Adams statement "as a step in the right direction".
Contrary to speculation this development will not be enough to secure an historic meeting between David Trimble and Gerry Adams to coincide with President Clinton's visit tomorrow.
Such a bi-lateral meeting and symbolic handshake should be seen as some way ahead because unionists as well as asking for a statement that the war is over demand Sinn Fein co-operate fully with the International Decommissioning Commission and that the IRA commence verifiable decommissioning.
Last night unionist sources told the Irish News that these things have to happen before they can in any way start to move towards a realistic working relationship with Sinn Fein.
"But this is a first small step in the right direction that Sinn Fein have taken since they signed up to the Good Friday agreement," unionist sources said.
In his statement headed "a cautious welcome" in direct response to Mr Adams announcement, Mr Trimble said: "Carefully crafted words alone are not enough. The people of Northern Ireland will now judge Sinn Fein on their actions over the coming days. An end to the war means the weapons of terrorism must be destroyed and all forms of paramilitary violence must cease for good."
Sinn Fein last night did not expand on Mr Adams' statement but republican sources said that the next stage to reach in the process should be the establishment of the executive and the North/South Council and implementation bodies.
Republicans view, for example, the presidential visit as an opportunity to move the process forward and have been involved in discussions with the British and Irish governments and the White House in working out agreed steps which was felt could end the impasse.
And republicans indicate also this would be hoped to be a step taken in the direction of a face-to-face meeting between Gerry Adams and First Minister David Trimble.
Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon said: "I welcome the content and tone of this statement. I trust that it can lead to a fuller understanding of the position of Sinn Fein, and that understanding can help to facilitate the inclusive and honest dialogue that is so essential to further political progress and move towards the implementation of the Good Friday agreement in its entirety."
SDLP leader John Hume said: "I particularly welcome the fact that Sinn Fein have underlined their total commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic methods stating in other words that as far as the republican movement is concerned the so-called war is over. I also naturally hope that this will now lead to direct talks between all political parties in the north."
The Democratic Unionist Party said that "the carefully choreographed statement by Gerry Adams was designed to please the White House and Downing Street" and that "the IRA remain armed to the teeth".
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0199
Published Date: 02-Sep-98
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