Tragedy
and farce in equal measure.
From THE IRISH NEWS July 16th, 1999
Nevertheless their absenteeism will cast the party in a poor light. Meanwhile,
dangers are being pointed up by observers about the political vacuum although
there are no indications of any kind that the main paramilitary groups are
considering breaking their ceasefires. But a long term loss of momentum
could pose problems and that is why it is so necessary for the politicians
of all pro-agreement parties to continue to work on the Way Forward document
until they find the way forward. Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is said
to be exasperated by the blockage in political progress, was in glum mood
yesterday when he noted: "If people do not learn to build trust and to recognise
the pain and injustice on the other side as well as their own, then normal politics in Northern Ireland will never root and there will never be peace."
The broad framework for agreement is clear - an inclusive executive exercising
devolved powers; decommissioning of all paramilitary arms by May 2000; and
decommissioning to be carried out in a manner determined by the International
Commission. The review itself must not simply be turned into a 'decommissioning
review' and will have to consider how to build the necessary trust across
the parties for the formation of the executive and also in progressing all
aspects of the Good Friday agreement.
Today there seems to be no alternative for the politicians but to grit their
teeth and try and try again to make the necessary breakthrough which will
stop Northern Ireland slipping backwards into the darkest days of its troubled
history. |
