Blair backs “short, sharp” review of NI Agreement
Tony Blair yesterday authorised a “short, sharp” focused review of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
The review will be officially launched in early January with a deadline set for Easter.
Mr Blair said the review will assess “the way the institutions work and how we can overcome the current impasse.”
The Prime Minister and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday asked representatives from three political parties in Northern Ireland yesterday to offer their thoughts on reviving the stalled peace process by the end of December.
Mr Blair has said there were grounds for optimism for restoring the Assembly, which was suspended 14 months ago amid allegations of IRA intelligence gathering at Stormont.
Downing Street will ask the crucial question whether Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party will sit with Sinn Fein and whether latter can push the IRA to further comply with acts of decommissioning.
But Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said it was unrealistic to expect the IRA to make more disarmament moves.
The talks came a day after what the DUP called an “extremely useful meeting” with Mr Blair.
