Clouds
over Ulster talks as they end in sunshine
From DAILY TELEGRAPH April 2nd, 1999
Equally significant, Mr Trimble has seen the pan-nationalist front crumble
and republicans isolated from Dublin and the SDLP. As the talks ended, there
were angry exchanges between Sinn Fein delegates and Irish government officials.
Mr Trimble's difficulties within his party have been eased for the time
being as he was seen to have won the argument over arms and gained the backing
of Dublin as well as London. John Hume, leader of the nationalist SDLP,
was delighted that the Dublin government's proposal for a day of reconciliation
had been taken up. Not all relatives of victims will take kindly to this
but - if handled sensitively - it offers a way of bringing the two communities
together. All this, however, will be worth little if the Good Friday Agreement
collapses because the IRA and loyalist terrorists refuse to decommission.
If this happens, both Mr Trimble and Mr Blair will face criticism for having
trusted paramilitary groups and brought them into the democratic process.
The next 11 days are likely to be tense. The momentum has slipped away and
republicans will attend their Easter commemorations in a mood of confusion
verging on demoralisation. As the politicians left Hillsborough Castle,
there was a feeling that while the mood music had changed, the fundamental
issue had still to be tackled. |
