VIOLENCE MUST BE A THING OF THE PAST
Violence 'must be a thing of the past'
By MERVYN PAULEY
Adams' Statement
MY position on what happened In Omagh on 15 August is quite categoric. I have condemned it without equivocation.
"This appalling act was carried out by those opposed to the peace process.
"It is designed to wreck the process and everyone should, work to ensure the peace process continues as is the clear wish of the people of the island.
"Sinn Fein has called for a complete halt to such actions and has urged all armed groups to stop immediately.
"Those responsible are aligning themselves with the forces opposed to a democratic settlement in the conflict here.
"Sinn Fein is committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means to achieve a way forward.
"We have to work politically to make the Omagh bombing the last violent incident in our country, the last incident of this kind. We are committed to making conflict a thing of the past.
"There is a shared responsibility to, removing the causes and to achieving an end to all conflict.
"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.
"In particular, the two governments have the principal responsibility, as do the party leaders.
"I am committed to play my part, as is Sinn Fein. Our role in the peace process provides a substantial body of irrefutable evidence to support this.
"The Good Friday Agreement has the powerful potential to take us forward and we must urgently press on with its implementation.
"Inclusive and honest dialogue is the only way forward in this country.
"We need to map a path out of the dark tunnel that people feel themselves to be in. There is much despair around and the vacuum that has been created must be filled."
IN a dramatic move ahead of' President Bill Clinton's Ulster visit, Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams last night made what many saw as an effective "war is over" statement.
"The violence we have seen must be for all of us now a thing of the past, over, done with and gone," he declared.
Although not actually using the oft-demanded "war is over" formula, his statement was interpreted in political circles as vitally important
at a critical time in the peace process.
It was hailed by London, Dublin and Washington, and, significantly, Ulster Unionist leader and First Minister David Trimble gave it a cautious welcome. The DUP, however, dismissed it as a "carefully choreographed" move aimed at pleasing the White House and Downing Street.
Mr Trimble, while welcoming the statement, insisted: "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."
Ulster Unionist sources acknowledged the Adams' statement as an important "first step", one insider commenting: "This is the first sign of movement from Sinn Fein, although there is a long way still to go."
Sinn Fein insiders described Adams' statement as "highly significant".
There was speculation last night that it might pave the way for an historic face-to-face meeting between Mr Adams and Mr Trimble, possibly coinciding with Mr Clinton's visit to the Province tomorrow.
An Ulster Unionist source said it was too early to talk about a Trimble/Adams head to head when the republican movement had yet to take effective steps to start decommissioning its arms.
But it was learned last night that the First Minister and his deputy, Seamus Mallon, are convening a meeting of senior party representatives next Monday at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
Mr Adams is expected to be present at the all-party get-together at which Assembly structures and the issue of the shadow executive will be discussed.
A spokesman for the First Minister said: "Mr Trimble can be expected to spell out very forcefully what is required of Sinn Fein if progress is to be made in the Assembly."
There were reports last night that senior Sinn Fein negotiator Martin McGuinness might be appointed as Sinn Fein's go-between with the independent disarmament commission.
Both Prime Minister Tony Blair and Ulster Secretary Mo Mowlam described the Adams' missive as a "significant and welcome move".
Mr Blair said it 'confirmed that Sinn Fein deserved to be taken seriously in its commitment to exclusively peaceful means. It should help to build confidence and break down barriers of mistrust, he believed.
Downing Street had prior notice of the Sinn Fein statement but insisted it got the text at the same time as the media. President Clinton's advance guard is believed to have put strong pressure on republicans for a peace process initiative.
Mr Blair said: "Omagh seems to have had the opposite effect to that intended by the bombers - it has strengthened the Belfast agreement, has brought the communities closer together and it has isolated the splinter groups even further."
Ms Mowlam said: "This is a significant statement building on what Gerry Adams said after the Omagh bombing and I warmly welcome it. I particularly welcome the clear indication that violence must now be a thing of the past.
"Of course there is a long way to go. But what Gerry Adams has said today should help importantly to create the necessary atmosphere of trust in the intentions of Sinn Fein and those with whom they are associated in which - following the Good Friday Agreement - the political process can continue to move forward.
"We must all now do everything we can to maintain the momentum of the process addressing both past problems and future difficulties."
SDLP leader John Hume said he hoped the Sinn Fein statement would lead to direct talks between all political parties.
He added: "I particularly welcome the fact that Sinn Fein have underlined their total commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic methods stating in others words, that as far as the republican movement is concerned the so-called war is over."
Eire Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said it was a further positive contribution by Sinn Fein to building confidence and trust and "an important advance in the consolidation of the Good Friday Agreement".
The statement was issued on the eve of the emergency recall of both the Commons and the Dail to pass new anti-terrorist laws in the wake of the Omagh bombing.
Mr Adams said in his statement that everyone must work politically to make sure the "appalling" Omagh bombing - carried out by the Real IRA - was "the last violent incident in our country".
He pledged: "Sinn Fein is committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means to achieve a way forward ... We are committed to making conflict a thing of the past.
"There is a shared responsibility to removing the causes and to achieving an end to all conflict. 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."
Calling for urgent implementation of the Agreement, Mr Adams said: "Inclusive and honest dialogue is the only way forward in this country.
"We need to map a path out of the dark tunnel that people feel themselves to be in. There is much despair around and the vacuum that has been created must be filled."
Ulster Unionist MP the Rev Martin Smyth accused Sinn Fein of manipulating words and he urged that the IRA "war machine" be disbanded through decommissioning.
Northern Ireland deputy first minister Seamus Mallon welcomed the tone and content of the Adams' statement.
He said: "I trust that it can lead to a fuller understanding of the position of Sinn Fein and that that understanding can help to facilitate the 'inclusive and honest dialogue' that is so essential to further political progress."
The DUP was scathing in its criticism, with deputy leader Peter Robinson dismissing the statement as word games. "It falls far short of a declaration of a permanent end to their campaign," he protested.
"All it suggests is, at best, a desire for violence to end subject to them getting their way and shouldn't be considered as being an advance."
Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson welcomed the Adams' statement. "In reality, he was saying the war is over," he said.
For the Tories, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Andrew Mackay also welcomed the statement as a step forward. "We would now like him to confirm that the 'war is over'," he said.
"We must see the IRA beginning to decommission its large arsenals of weapons and explosives, as they agreed to do by signing up to the Belfast agreement.
"If Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness wish to be ministers in the Assembly there is no room for them to have a private army."
By MERVYN PAULEY
Adams' Statement
MY position on what happened In Omagh on 15 August is quite categoric. I have condemned it without equivocation.
"This appalling act was carried out by those opposed to the peace process.
"It is designed to wreck the process and everyone should, work to ensure the peace process continues as is the clear wish of the people of the island.
"Sinn Fein has called for a complete halt to such actions and has urged all armed groups to stop immediately.
"Those responsible are aligning themselves with the forces opposed to a democratic settlement in the conflict here.
"Sinn Fein is committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means to achieve a way forward.
"We have to work politically to make the Omagh bombing the last violent incident in our country, the last incident of this kind. We are committed to making conflict a thing of the past.
"There is a shared responsibility to, removing the causes and to achieving an end to all conflict.
"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.
"In particular, the two governments have the principal responsibility, as do the party leaders.
"I am committed to play my part, as is Sinn Fein. Our role in the peace process provides a substantial body of irrefutable evidence to support this.
"The Good Friday Agreement has the powerful potential to take us forward and we must urgently press on with its implementation.
"Inclusive and honest dialogue is the only way forward in this country.
"We need to map a path out of the dark tunnel that people feel themselves to be in. There is much despair around and the vacuum that has been created must be filled."
IN a dramatic move ahead of' President Bill Clinton's Ulster visit, Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams last night made what many saw as an effective "war is over" statement.
"The violence we have seen must be for all of us now a thing of the past, over, done with and gone," he declared.
Although not actually using the oft-demanded "war is over" formula, his statement was interpreted in political circles as vitally important
at a critical time in the peace process.
It was hailed by London, Dublin and Washington, and, significantly, Ulster Unionist leader and First Minister David Trimble gave it a cautious welcome. The DUP, however, dismissed it as a "carefully choreographed" move aimed at pleasing the White House and Downing Street.
Mr Trimble, while welcoming the statement, insisted: "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."
Ulster Unionist sources acknowledged the Adams' statement as an important "first step", one insider commenting: "This is the first sign of movement from Sinn Fein, although there is a long way still to go."
Sinn Fein insiders described Adams' statement as "highly significant".
There was speculation last night that it might pave the way for an historic face-to-face meeting between Mr Adams and Mr Trimble, possibly coinciding with Mr Clinton's visit to the Province tomorrow.
An Ulster Unionist source said it was too early to talk about a Trimble/Adams head to head when the republican movement had yet to take effective steps to start decommissioning its arms.
But it was learned last night that the First Minister and his deputy, Seamus Mallon, are convening a meeting of senior party representatives next Monday at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
Mr Adams is expected to be present at the all-party get-together at which Assembly structures and the issue of the shadow executive will be discussed.
A spokesman for the First Minister said: "Mr Trimble can be expected to spell out very forcefully what is required of Sinn Fein if progress is to be made in the Assembly."
There were reports last night that senior Sinn Fein negotiator Martin McGuinness might be appointed as Sinn Fein's go-between with the independent disarmament commission.
Both Prime Minister Tony Blair and Ulster Secretary Mo Mowlam described the Adams' missive as a "significant and welcome move".
Mr Blair said it 'confirmed that Sinn Fein deserved to be taken seriously in its commitment to exclusively peaceful means. It should help to build confidence and break down barriers of mistrust, he believed.
Downing Street had prior notice of the Sinn Fein statement but insisted it got the text at the same time as the media. President Clinton's advance guard is believed to have put strong pressure on republicans for a peace process initiative.
Mr Blair said: "Omagh seems to have had the opposite effect to that intended by the bombers - it has strengthened the Belfast agreement, has brought the communities closer together and it has isolated the splinter groups even further."
Ms Mowlam said: "This is a significant statement building on what Gerry Adams said after the Omagh bombing and I warmly welcome it. I particularly welcome the clear indication that violence must now be a thing of the past.
"Of course there is a long way to go. But what Gerry Adams has said today should help importantly to create the necessary atmosphere of trust in the intentions of Sinn Fein and those with whom they are associated in which - following the Good Friday Agreement - the political process can continue to move forward.
"We must all now do everything we can to maintain the momentum of the process addressing both past problems and future difficulties."
SDLP leader John Hume said he hoped the Sinn Fein statement would lead to direct talks between all political parties.
He added: "I particularly welcome the fact that Sinn Fein have underlined their total commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic methods stating in others words, that as far as the republican movement is concerned the so-called war is over."
Eire Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said it was a further positive contribution by Sinn Fein to building confidence and trust and "an important advance in the consolidation of the Good Friday Agreement".
The statement was issued on the eve of the emergency recall of both the Commons and the Dail to pass new anti-terrorist laws in the wake of the Omagh bombing.
Mr Adams said in his statement that everyone must work politically to make sure the "appalling" Omagh bombing - carried out by the Real IRA - was "the last violent incident in our country".
He pledged: "Sinn Fein is committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means to achieve a way forward ... We are committed to making conflict a thing of the past.
"There is a shared responsibility to removing the causes and to achieving an end to all conflict. 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."
Calling for urgent implementation of the Agreement, Mr Adams said: "Inclusive and honest dialogue is the only way forward in this country.
"We need to map a path out of the dark tunnel that people feel themselves to be in. There is much despair around and the vacuum that has been created must be filled."
Ulster Unionist MP the Rev Martin Smyth accused Sinn Fein of manipulating words and he urged that the IRA "war machine" be disbanded through decommissioning.
Northern Ireland deputy first minister Seamus Mallon welcomed the tone and content of the Adams' statement.
He said: "I trust that it can lead to a fuller understanding of the position of Sinn Fein and that that understanding can help to facilitate the 'inclusive and honest dialogue' that is so essential to further political progress."
The DUP was scathing in its criticism, with deputy leader Peter Robinson dismissing the statement as word games. "It falls far short of a declaration of a permanent end to their campaign," he protested.
"All it suggests is, at best, a desire for violence to end subject to them getting their way and shouldn't be considered as being an advance."
Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson welcomed the Adams' statement. "In reality, he was saying the war is over," he said.
For the Tories, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Andrew Mackay also welcomed the statement as a step forward. "We would now like him to confirm that the 'war is over'," he said.
"We must see the IRA beginning to decommission its large arsenals of weapons and explosives, as they agreed to do by signing up to the Belfast agreement.
"If Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness wish to be ministers in the Assembly there is no room for them to have a private army."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/253
Published Date: 02-Sep-98
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