SDLP SAYS ITS TIME TO DISARM
SDLP says its time to disarm
A CLEAR sign that paramilitaries have started to disarm was called for last night by senior SDLP politician Sean Farren.
He said such a step was noticeably absent from a progress list of moves flowing from the Good Friday Agreement, including consultations on the functions of the North-South ministerial council.
The North Antrim Assemblyman, one of the negotiators of the Stormont deal, said the Omagh bombing had shown that the political road was the only way forward.
And arms decommissioning, he said, must be part of the scenario.
While the final responsibility for this lay with the paramilitaries, parties linked with them, or who had influence with them, must show they were working constructively and in good faith to promote decommissioning.
"Failure to demonstrate that commitment could seriously impede overall progress with the Good Friday Agreement," Mr Farren warned.
A CLEAR sign that paramilitaries have started to disarm was called for last night by senior SDLP politician Sean Farren.
He said such a step was noticeably absent from a progress list of moves flowing from the Good Friday Agreement, including consultations on the functions of the North-South ministerial council.
The North Antrim Assemblyman, one of the negotiators of the Stormont deal, said the Omagh bombing had shown that the political road was the only way forward.
And arms decommissioning, he said, must be part of the scenario.
While the final responsibility for this lay with the paramilitaries, parties linked with them, or who had influence with them, must show they were working constructively and in good faith to promote decommissioning.
"Failure to demonstrate that commitment could seriously impede overall progress with the Good Friday Agreement," Mr Farren warned.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/091
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
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