Tony Blair, Met Northern parties
The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, met the Taoiseach tonight for two hours of discussions at Government Buildings on the stalled Northern peace process. After his discussions with the Northern parties earlier today, Mr Blair said he thought there were possibilities, but it was important that peoples' expectations were not raised too highly before these possibilities were explored. No formal statement was issued after the meeting but official sources said the two men had reviewed the outcome of their individual talks with northern party leaders. The sources said officials of both Governments would resume their contacts in the morning.
The Taoiseach earlier told the Dáil that when he met the Prime Minister tonight they would take stock of how best they can move matters forward with the Northern parties. However he told Opposition deputies that much remained to be done. Replying to questions, Mr Ahern said it was not a question of what the two governments would agree on but whether they could get it implemented. They had a clear view, he said, but it would not be of much use if they could not carry all the other parties with them.
The Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, called on the Irish Government to rethink its approach to dealing with republicans. Speaking after his meeting with Mr Blair, Mr Trimble said that in January and February, he had been led to believe that the Irish Government could get republicans to deliver on their obligations. He added, however, that the Irish officials dealing with Sinn Fein had not in fact been able to deliver, and that it was a matter of very serious concern. He said London was working through the Irish Government and still relying on the same people who failed in January and February. He said the Irish Government should realise that offering carrot after carrot will not work.
The SDLP put a series of proposals to Mr Blair during talks at Hillsborough Castle. The party leader, John Hume, called on the British Government to repeal the legislation suspending the northern institutions and to make it clear that unilateral action would never again be taken. Mr Hume also proposed that both governments and the parties should reaffirm their commitment to working constructively with John de Chastelain.
Despite the efforts of officials from both governments to agree a common position, Tony Blair's office conceded that he would not be bringing any blueprint to Belfast today. The official line was that the Prime Minister would be engaging in a listening exercise, meeting with the parties in an attempt to gauge the political temperature. With Sinn Féin likely to be the primary focus of his efforts, Mr Blair was expected to face demands from that party for a formal guarantee that, once re-instated the political institutions would not be suspended again.
The Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, said that was an impossible demand. He also said that Tony Blair must seek a guarantee of IRA disarmament if the Northern peace process is to move forward. He told reporters that the Northern parties had to get a way from the belief that a formula of words can be conjured up to solve the situation. Mr Trimble also criticised the SDLP for not applying enough pressure on Republicans to give up their weapons.
