SDLP pressures Blair on peace process
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be pressed today on his plans for moving the Northern peace process forward amid concerns from the SDLP that he may water down the Good Friday Agreement.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan will lead a five-strong delegation to Downing Street to meet Mr Blair, who is facing demands from Sinn Féin and Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists.
As the delegation headed to London, an SDLP spokesman said: “We will be urging Tony Blair to stand strong for the agreement and not to dilute it for the DUP.
“The more concessions he gives the DUP, the more they’ll want and the longer we’ll all be stuck in suspension.”
Following moves by the IRA in July to end its armed campaign and the completion of its disarmament programme three weeks ago, Sinn Féin has been urging the Irish and British governments to honour peace process commitments.
Republicans want to see legislation committing the British government to the transfer of policing and justice powers to a future administration at Stormont and also want IRA members who have been on the run and living abroad to return to the North without fear of being jailed for alleged crimes.
The DUP has submitted a 64-page dossier to Downing Street outlining confidence-building measures they are demanding if they are to begin contemplating going into government with Sinn Féin in the future.
Mr Paisley’s party would like a generous severance package for Royal Irish Regiment soldiers affected by plans to scale down security in the North, reforms on the parades issue and an investment package for working-class Protestant neighbourhoods to tackle deprivation.
The SDLP is concerned at reports the British government is considering funding and recognising community restorative justice schemes in republican areas, even though Sinn Féin and those participating in them may not recognise or support the police.
The party was expected to raise this issue and also press for strategies to end sectarianism and advance the level of co-operation between governments on both sides of the border.
Democratic Unionist MP William McCrea accused the SDLP as it headed to London of hypocrisy for urging Mr Blair not to indulge his party while at the same time pushing for its all-Ireland agenda.
“Why should the SDLP get what they want on North-South bodies whilst unionists get nothing on parades, culture, policing, public appointments and economic development in unionist areas?” the South Antrim MP said.
“It is clear that the SDLP are content with concessions such as the early release of terrorist prisoners, an amnesty for on-the-runs, the destruction of the RUC and the RIR and terrorist representatives in government, but it can’t abide the thought of unionists being treated fairly and equitably.
“The SDLP will have no choice but to wake up and realise that the DUP intends to fight for the rights of those we represent.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will travel to South Africa today for meetings with senior government figures to brief them on recent progress in the North.
He is due to make a courtesy call to South African president Thabo Mbeki during the trip.
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