Just to show those parochial small minds in Northern Ireland that it is possible to move forward, here's an extract from a BBC report about elections now underway in Serbia:

"The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says the campaign has been largely devoid of the issues that have dominated in the past, such as co-operation with The Hague war crimes tribunal and Kosovo."

The troubles in Northern Ireland - what the provos liked to call a war - was a pea on the drum of what went on in the Balkans 1991-95. At least those parochial small minds are in a dwindling minority. For instance those of them on the republican side of the argument are going to have to come to terms with Sinn Feinn, any day now, giving its support to that police service they love to revile, as though it's not changed a bit since the days of Inspector Nixon and co.