I'm out of patience: Trimble

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JUNE 19. The much hyped Downing Street ``summit'' on Northern Ireland here on Monday collapsed in a heap of recriminations with not the slightest progress on any of the issues which threaten the peace process.

Both the Unionists and Nationalists emerged from the meeting in an angry mood, making it clear that they were not willing to compromise on their respective demands. In their separate meetings with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart, Mr. Bertie Ahern, the two sides refused to budge from their positions - the Unionists insisting that the IRA must start putting its arms beyond use immediately, and the Nationalists clinging equally vehemently to their demand for radical police reforms and scaling down British security in Northern Ireland.

The Ulster Unionist Party chief, Mr. David Trimble was livid as he came out of the meeting saying his patience was ``at an end'' and he would not tolerate any further delay in arms decommissioning. He reiterated his decision to quit as the First Minister of Northern Ireland on July 1 if there was no progress on the issue by then. Mr. Trimble accused the IRA of dragging its feet on decommissioning, a key element of the Good Friday Agreement. ``Speaking personally, my patience is at an end on this issue. If we do not see the republican movement keeping the promise it made then, I will vacate the office in a fortnight'', he told reporters.

The Sinn Fein leader, Mr. Gerry Adams was equally uncompromising and ruled out any concessions under pressure. ``Let's not have the process hijacked,'' he said, referring to Mr. Trimble's threat to resign. He said, ``With goodwill, all of these issues will be resolved'' but added that this would not be possible ``between now and July 1''. The British Government, he maintained, should not be seen giving in to the Unionists' ``threats and ultimatums''. He believed the British Government lacked the political will to ``seize the nettle'' on the two issues which the Republicans have put forward as a pre-condition for further movement on the Good Friday Agreement - police reforms and reduced security presence.

One newspaper said according to some reports, the talks with the Sinn Fein delegation were ``very stormy''. Downing Street declined to comment beyond saying that efforts to carry forward the peace process would continue.

The SDLP, which supports the Unionists' demand for arms decommissioning but also wants more progress on police reforms and disarmament, pressed its demand for ``full implementation'' of the Agreement.

In other words, it wanted both sides to keep their side of the bargain. A party leader said after the meeting that the peace process was in ``big trouble''.

Monday's ``summit'' had been billed as a major initiative to get the Good Friday Agreement back on the rails after the setback to the pro-Agreement elements in the recent general and local elections.

Hardliners on both sides gained significantly at the cost of the moderate forces, prompting calls for a review of the Agreement, and particularly the way in which it has been implemented.

Mr. Trimble, who has been under enormous pressure to get the IRA to start decommissioning or quit the power-sharing executive with the Nationalists, faces a leadership challenge from party hardliners later this week.

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Section  : International
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