Irisch Republikanische Solidarität








TC

Review becoming a 'farce' - Adams




Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has described the review of the
Good Friday Agreement review as "now little more than a farce"
after the British and Irish governments cancelled talks for two
weeks.

This had happened despite the parties, including Sinn Fein, had
put forward a comprehensive agenda for discussion.

"The two governments have to come up with a more focused
structure if they really want to make progress," Mr Adams said.

He also claimed that despite all the positive spin, there was no
evidence that the DUP was prepared to engage positively with the
peace process or with the institutions established under the
agreement.

Mr Adams said: "The DUP's terms for talking to Sinn Fein are
totally unacceptable.

"The failure of the two governments to honour their commitments
under the agreement and last October, reinforces the DUP in this
position.

"Indeed, why should the DUP properly engage at all when by doing
nothing they can veto progress," he added.

The Sinn Fein president said that the British and Irish
governments hold the key to unlocking the current stalemate.

"By implementing their obligations, by making clear to unionism
that it cannot block change, the two governments can engender
confidence and create an atmosphere in which everyone can feel
liberated and empowered to move forward," he said.

Meanwhile, a Sinn Fein delegation had discussions in Belfast with
the SDLP about the political stalemate.

SDLP senior negotiator Sean Farren said there was a consensus
that greater urgency, clarity and a renewed impetus was required
in the review of the Good Friday Agreement.

"We need a clear structure and timescale for the review, with
parties engaging with each other on all aspects of the agreement.
This will not emerge from talks that have no sense of direction
and no shared understanding," he said.

"The present approach will only intensify frustration, dampen
expectations and damage people's confidence that we can get
politics working again. What we need from the two governments is
less helicopter-driven diplomacy and more work to make the
parties engage in real negotiations."

Speaking afterwards, Sinn Fein assembly group leader Conor Murphy
said: "There are key issues that impact on our shared
constituency, not least concerns about the handling of the Cory
report by the British government, and the Human Rights
Commission. Both these issues highlight an unwillingness to move
the process on.

"The refusal of the two governments to lift suspension or indeed
accept their own commitments remains the most negative influence
on the peace process," he said.

Letzte Änderung:
01-April-04