Blair announces “intensive negotiations” on Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister has said there will be “intensive negotiations” in September aiming to restore devolution in Northern Ireland.
Tony Blair’s comments follow discussions in London today with Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern and leaders of North Ireland’s main parties.
The Assembly was suspended from midnight on October 14 2002, following allegations about an IRA spy-ring within Stormont that had passed information about prominent politicians to the paramilitaries. The Ulster Unionist Party threatened to pull out of power-sharing altogether if Sinn Fein was not expelled from the administration.
Before this time, the Assembly had been suspended on three other occasions because the unionist parties’ refused to participate without additional reassurances about the republicans’ renunciation of violence.
Mr Blair told a press conference that the talks – scheduled to last several days in the early part of September – would focus on four issues: an end to paramilitary activity; decommissioning; the institutions; and policing.
Mr Blair said: “I think there is a real recognition – not simply the recognition of the British and Irish governments – but actually of the parties that we talked to today that it is time to come to the point of decision and make up our minds one way or another.
“So that at the end of this negotiation we either have – and let’s hope we do – a concluded agreement that allows everyone to move forward together or alternatively we are going to have to search for a different way forward.”
Mr Blair noted that for the peace process to maintain credibility there “really can’t be endless more negotiations”.
Negotiations for the resumption of shared power have become increasingly difficult with the replacement of the more moderate UUP and SDLP by the DUP and Sinn Fein as the largest parties. The DUP formally refuses even to hold talks with Sinn Fein.
