2.12.04
Belfast Telegraph
DUP out to block talks, says Adams
By Noel McAdam
02 December 2004
The DUP's refusal to accept Sinn Fein's mandate and the rights of its electorate is a "block" on efforts to move forward, Gerry Adams is warning.
The Sinn Fein president said the DUP's stance had been compounded by leader Ian Paisley's recent remarks on humiliating the IRA which should wear "sackcloth and ashes".
In a speech in Navan, Co Meath, last night, Mr Adams also said: "The DUP demands are not acceptable to Sinn Féin. They should not be acceptable to the two governments."
His comments came after an apparently downbeat assessment following his latest meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair - though Sinn Fein sources insisted the work to do a deal was going on.
Mr Adams said his party had concluded its representations to the governments on their blueprint to restore the Assembly and power-sharing Executive. "In my opinion these discussion can go no further. It is now time for a decision," he said.
Mr Adams said both parties had a lot of work to do and the DUP had a long way to travel in a very short time if a deal was to be reached.
"A DUP demand for the humiliation of republicans is not only unacceptable, it will not happen and it has no place in a process of peace-making.
"The days of humiliation, of second-class citizens and of inequality are gone forever. If the DUP want to be part of a new and shared future, they will have to replace the mindset of humiliation with a psychology of accommodation and generosity," Mr Adams said.
After his meeting with Mr Blair, Alliance leader David Ford said the pieces for a deal were in place.
"Over the next few days it is important that both the DUP and Sinn Fein demonstrate their good faith intentions to one another, and that unionists focus on the very real substance that is on offer," he said.
"I am convinced that if the necessary will can be shown then the deal can be done. But it is far from certain that such an opportunity will present itself again for some time."
DUP out to block talks, says Adams
By Noel McAdam
02 December 2004
The DUP's refusal to accept Sinn Fein's mandate and the rights of its electorate is a "block" on efforts to move forward, Gerry Adams is warning.
The Sinn Fein president said the DUP's stance had been compounded by leader Ian Paisley's recent remarks on humiliating the IRA which should wear "sackcloth and ashes".
In a speech in Navan, Co Meath, last night, Mr Adams also said: "The DUP demands are not acceptable to Sinn Féin. They should not be acceptable to the two governments."
His comments came after an apparently downbeat assessment following his latest meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair - though Sinn Fein sources insisted the work to do a deal was going on.
Mr Adams said his party had concluded its representations to the governments on their blueprint to restore the Assembly and power-sharing Executive. "In my opinion these discussion can go no further. It is now time for a decision," he said.
Mr Adams said both parties had a lot of work to do and the DUP had a long way to travel in a very short time if a deal was to be reached.
"A DUP demand for the humiliation of republicans is not only unacceptable, it will not happen and it has no place in a process of peace-making.
"The days of humiliation, of second-class citizens and of inequality are gone forever. If the DUP want to be part of a new and shared future, they will have to replace the mindset of humiliation with a psychology of accommodation and generosity," Mr Adams said.
After his meeting with Mr Blair, Alliance leader David Ford said the pieces for a deal were in place.
"Over the next few days it is important that both the DUP and Sinn Fein demonstrate their good faith intentions to one another, and that unionists focus on the very real substance that is on offer," he said.
"I am convinced that if the necessary will can be shown then the deal can be done. But it is far from certain that such an opportunity will present itself again for some time."
