Tony Blair, This is not the end of the line
David Trimble, Considering his position as First Minister
Bertie Ahern, "Deeply disappointed"
Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair are to meet next week under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement to review the Northern peace process. It was put on hold after the Ulster Unionists boycotted the Northern Assembly this morning, prompting the resignation of Seamus Mallon as Deputy First Minister over the failure to set up a devolved power-sharing executive. The Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, said tonight that he was considering his position as First Minister following the resignation of Mr Mallon.
Tony Blair has said this will not be the end of the line for the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Blair said the question of trust, about whether Unionists will share power with non-Unionists and whether Republicans will relinquish the gun, was outstanding. He said he believed the answer to both questions was "yes", and that he would persevere. Mr Blair also said he hoped that a summer break for dialogue and time to consider the deal would help. He said the Good Friday Agreement would continue but that it could not yet be implemented. The Taoiseach has said he is deeply disappointed. He said the two Governments are consulting at present on the details of the Review Process and will finalise arrangements next week. Mr Ahern also said he saw no useful purpose in recriminations and remained determined that a way could be found to implement the Agreement in full.
Members of the Ulster Unionist Party boycotted the Assembly meeting after last night's decision by the ruling executive of the party to reject the latest British Government proposals for setting up a power-sharing executive. After a 15 minute meeting in Belfast, David Trimble said he was not prepared to seek a change in party policy which requires IRA decommissioning before Sinn Féin can share power. Sinn Féin assembly member, Mitchell McLaughlin, said that Mr Trimble's tactics had made the British Prime Minister look foolish, and that if both governments were committed to absolute deadlines they should suspend the Ulster Unionist leader as First Minister.
Writing in newspapers today, David Trimble said that he cannot take the risk of going into government with republicans when there is no evidence that IRA decommissioning will take place. But he holds out the possibility that "individuals may change over time". Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern are said to be bitterly disappointed with last night's developments, and the Taoiseach's officials are now focussing on the terms of review of the process, which will follow. That review will take place under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement and not under the legislation which was rushed through the House of Commons. Sinn Féin meanwhile, now claims that the main issue is the reluctance of Unionists to share power with nationalists rather than any misgivings over the arms issue.
The Fine Gael leader, John Bruton, said the crisis gave everyone a better understanding of the constraints and concerns of Unionists and Republicans which could be used to strengthen the Agreement. The Labour leader, Ruairi Quinn, described events as "sad and disappointing". He urged all those involved to avail of the review process. US President Bill Clinton has said the Good Friday Agreement cannot be allowed to fall apart, and pledged his continued support for the peace process. Speaking at the White House this evening, he said the idea that the process could fall apart because of an argument about "who goes first" was reminiscient of the behaviour of schoolchildren.
