Minister Cowen arrives in Northern Ireland
Sinn Fein presented Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen with a letter protesting against the postponement of elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly tonight.
Mr Cowen flew into Derry tonight at the beginning of a two-day visit to Northern Ireland to see how progress can be made to solve the current crisis in the peace process.
As he arrived at the city’s Guildhall he was greeted by a party of Sinn Fein councillors headed by Maeve McLaughlin.
She gave him the letter, signed by all the Sinn Fein councillors, which read: “The British government’s decision to postpone the Assembly elections scheduled for May 29 was a unilateral act in clear breach of the Good Friday Agreement.
“Given the Irish Government’s responsibility as a joint signatory to defend and promote the Agreement we wish – as Derry Sinn Fein elected representatives - to express our grave concern at the failure of your Government to oppose the decision to cancel these elections and to insist that the democratic process is not subject to the veto of any one party or individual.”
The letter urged the Irish Government not to allow the lives of nationalists in Northern Ireland to be subject to the whims of the British Government or the unionist leadership.
“As we approach the summer marching season, what confidence can we have that the Irish Government will stand over the rights of nationalists and republicans when the British Government has already demonstrated its disdain for the democratic process by removing the fundamental right to vote from hundreds of thousands of Irish citizens.” It said.
“The Irish Government has a moral and legal responsibility to safeguard our rights and we urge you to fulfil your role as an equal partner in the Good Friday Agreement.”
Inside the hall, Mr Cowen enjoyed an informal reception with many local politicians including the SDLP leader Mark Durkan, his predecessor John Hume and Sinn Fein’s chief negotiator Martin McGuinness.
Mr Cowen told the gathering it was important that no one lost sight of the progress which had been made in the peace process.
He also said it was important that elections were held as soon as possible.
“I think we have to refuse to be disheartened,” he said.
“People want to see their public representatives recognising the primacy of politics.
“Despite of setbacks I still say we have come a long way and with the necessary resolve a lot more progress can be made.”
