TRIMBLE ACCUSED OF SHIFTING BLAME
Trimble accused of shifting blame
By Jonathan Turner
SINN Fein's Gerry Kelly has claimed First Minister David Trimble is "preparing the ground" (or the collapse of the Good Friday agreement.
As the row over decommissioning rumbled on yesterday, Mr Kelly attacked comments the Ulster Unionist leader made at a young unionist meeting on Saturday.
Mr Trimble had said if the IRA did not hand over weapons, the peace process would be ""destroyed".
"Many people will be deeply disappointed by the tone and content of David Trimble's speech," Mr Kelly said.
"There appears to be only one interpretation that can be placed on it. He appears to be preparing the ground for the collapse of the Good Friday agreement."
The North Belfast assembly member said Mr Trimble's speech made it clear that "all shades of unionism" - even those who had backed the agreement - were now against the changes laid out in it.
"Has Mr Trimble now joined the 'no' camp within unionism?" he asked.
"He is trying to shift the blame for the collapse of the process away from himself, but Mr Trimble is solely responsible for the deadlock and any resulting fallout."
In his speech to the Young Ulster Unionist conference, Mr Trimble said the issue would be resolved when republicans handed over their weapons.
"After Omagh, there is no significant segment of opinion anywhere that can see any reason why anyone should hold on to Semtex, detonators and hundreds of guns," he said.
"There are no excuses any more. Society is not going to allow a handful of men - only one element of the republican movement - to defeat or destroy this process and defeat the hopes people have invested in it"
Meanwhile East Derry MP William Ross told the meeting that the assembly set up by the Good Friday agreement was unworkable.
Mr Ross, who has resided firmly in the 'no' camp since the referendum, added that power-sharing was "unworkable".
He was unavailable for further comment last night.
By Jonathan Turner
SINN Fein's Gerry Kelly has claimed First Minister David Trimble is "preparing the ground" (or the collapse of the Good Friday agreement.
As the row over decommissioning rumbled on yesterday, Mr Kelly attacked comments the Ulster Unionist leader made at a young unionist meeting on Saturday.
Mr Trimble had said if the IRA did not hand over weapons, the peace process would be ""destroyed".
"Many people will be deeply disappointed by the tone and content of David Trimble's speech," Mr Kelly said.
"There appears to be only one interpretation that can be placed on it. He appears to be preparing the ground for the collapse of the Good Friday agreement."
The North Belfast assembly member said Mr Trimble's speech made it clear that "all shades of unionism" - even those who had backed the agreement - were now against the changes laid out in it.
"Has Mr Trimble now joined the 'no' camp within unionism?" he asked.
"He is trying to shift the blame for the collapse of the process away from himself, but Mr Trimble is solely responsible for the deadlock and any resulting fallout."
In his speech to the Young Ulster Unionist conference, Mr Trimble said the issue would be resolved when republicans handed over their weapons.
"After Omagh, there is no significant segment of opinion anywhere that can see any reason why anyone should hold on to Semtex, detonators and hundreds of guns," he said.
"There are no excuses any more. Society is not going to allow a handful of men - only one element of the republican movement - to defeat or destroy this process and defeat the hopes people have invested in it"
Meanwhile East Derry MP William Ross told the meeting that the assembly set up by the Good Friday agreement was unworkable.
Mr Ross, who has resided firmly in the 'no' camp since the referendum, added that power-sharing was "unworkable".
He was unavailable for further comment last night.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0430
Published Date: 05-Oct-98
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