BS: Northern Ireland: Now What?

Subject: BS: Northern Ireland: Now What?
From: The Pooka
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 09:11 PM

I know we're not supposed to just paste an article (if at all - Joe Offer, am I Pushing the Envelope?) without saying what we think -- but I dunno WOT to think, any more. Who does? (Some of yez do, I'm sure.) I haven't followed this closely of late. What are Adams & McGuinness holding out for? (The SRC? - Sixcounties Republican Constabulary?)
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The Irish Times, Saturday April 12 2003:

Taoiseach and Adams meet today on North deadlock
US envoy stays in Belfast to put pressure on republicans         
      
The Taoiseach is to meet Sinn Féin leaders Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness in Dublin today amid a frantic round of weekend activity aimed at breaking the deadlock between republicans and the British and Irish governments, writes Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor.

Later this morning, he will meet the SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, and policing spokesman, Mr Alex Atwood.

The main political pressure is on Sinn Féin as Dublin and London continue to maintain that the IRA's response to their blueprint for reinstating the Executive and Assembly does not offer sufficient clarity to ensure a breakthrough.

There was general consensus last night that if the political situation is to be rescued it must happen within days, possibly by Monday at the latest, to provide sufficient time for Ulster Unionists to determine whether they will endorse the British-Irish package.

President Bush's special envoy on Ireland, Mr Richard Haass, returned to Belfast yesterday to urge republicans to shift their position.

After meeting Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness, he said: "If this opportunity is going to be seized, the leadership of the IRA is going to have to take positions that would mark an historic transformation.

"I essentially urged Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness to use their influence to try to persuade the IRA to say certain things that really would mark an historic transformation in the situation."

The blueprint was an "extraordinarily good package", said Mr Haass. "The bottom line; would everybody be better with this package? Yes. And that, at the end of the day, ought to be the criteria by which people make their decisions."

Mr Adams again called on the governments to publish their proposals for reactivating the Stormont bodies. He refused to comment on reports that the IRA response to the blueprint was inadequate and could not be sold to Ulster Unionists to allow the restoration of devolution.

He complained that the two governments were briefing against republicans, and that certain elements of the media were also campaigning against republicans.

"Anybody who thinks editorials in newspapers which have never supported the republican position is going to make a blind bit of difference in the heartland of republicanism is making a huge mistake," he said.

Mr Haass met the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, last night. Meetings were also scheduled with the other pro-Belfast Agreement parties, and Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body.

A spokesman for Mr Haass said the envoy was due to return to the US today, but he could stay through the weekend if he felt his presence would assist the governments and parties.

British and Irish officials will remain in contact with the parties over the weekend. One British source said that while the situation seemed deadlocked, there was still a possibility that the problems could be surmounted. "We still believe this is do-able."

Another insider said that any prospect of movement hinged on the IRA reshaping its response to the British and Irish package to provide the "what and when" of what was required. "We need to know what the IRA will do, and when they will do it."


Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent, writes:

The Taoiseach held a number of lengthy discussions by telephone with the British Prime Minister yesterday, and more will be held over the weekend.

The two leaders will meet in Athens on Wednesday, on the eve of an EU summit, if progress is not made before then.

© The Irish Times

Subject: RE: BS: Northern Ireland: Now What?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 09:23 PM

It's generally said that these kind of issues tend to get sorted out not at the 11th hour but at the 13th hour. But that would be rushing things a bit maybe.

The thing is nobody can agree to anything unless they know it'll be accepted, and that includes agreeing to accept anything that anybody else is proposing - there's a sort of infinite regression involved.

The IRA isn't going back to war, and nor are the British. That is what really matters in all this.

Subject: RE: BS: Northern Ireland: Now What?
From: The Pooka
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 09:31 PM

Kevin, "...not at the 11th hour but at the 13th hour. But that would be rushing things a bit maybe." O so it's Irish Time again izzit?

"...there's a sort of infinite regression involved." F'Chrissakes wouldyez quit bein' so Rational & Mathematical fer a minute while I'm tryin' to Troll for Controversy, here? :) // But Thanks Mr. McG. That is hopeful. Really. We need that.