Ahern-Blair talks on North in Greece

Updated: 20:38, Friday, 20 June 2003

The Taoiseach has said that he and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair have agreed a series of steps to avoid a political vacuum in the North during the marching season.

These include a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Council on 2 July and a series of meetings with the pro-Agreement parties.

Mr Blair and Mr Ahern met this afternoon on the margins of the EU summit in Greece. The two leaders also had a brief meeting this morning.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Mr Ahern said he had emphasised the need for autumn elections in the North and that there was a necessity to avoid political drift, especially at the beginning of the marching season.

He also announced that he is to meet the UUP leader David Trimble on Monday in Dublin, and the Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams later in the week.

Ahern voices support for British proposal

Earlier today, Mr Ahern voiced support for a controversial British proposal of creating 'protection' for asylum seekers in their own country before they become illegal immigrants on European soil.

However, he said this would have to be part of an overall package for third world countries, including development aid and trade, and that creating 'army camps' for asylum seekers was not the image that should be portrayed.

He said transit camps run by the EU which received asylum applications before the applicant left his or her country were still not 'thought out' or a real proposal.

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