Ahern: End spectre of violence that haunts us
All sides in the Irish peace process must seize the opportunity to finally shake off the spectre of violence, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.
After it emerged Mr Ahern has met Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams privately in recent weeks to discuss efforts to get the IRA to abandon paramilitarism and criminality for good, the Taoiseach said during a visit to a First World War memorial park in Belgium that all sides had big decisions to make.
During a prize ceremony in the International School for Peace Studies near Messines, Mr Ahern noted the sacrifices which had been made by soliders from both sides of the Irish border during the First World War.
“The men were Protestants, Catholics, unionists and nationalists, but their differences were transcended by a common higher purpose,” he said.
“This common struggle for a shared ideal is something which should inspire us as we face up to present challenges. In Ireland, it is time to finally lay to rest the spectre of violence that still stalks us.
“Paramilitarism in all its manifestations has to be consigned to history. Equally, political partnership has to be accepted as the way of the future.
“Leaders on all sides have big decisions to make.”
In April, Gerry Adams issued a public appeal to the IRA to consider abandoning the armed struggle for what he called the democratic alternative.
Later that month, the Provisionals confirmed they had begun an internal consultation process with their members about the terror organisation’s future.
However unionists, particularly the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists, believe any IRA statement confirming an end to paramilitary and criminal activity will have to be crystal clear and matched by deeds.
Senior figures in the DUP, which last December came close to striking a deal which could have seen Sinn Féin back in devolved government, have publicly expressed doubts in recent months whether republicans are ever going to give up their involvement in criminal enterprises and paramilitarism.
Speculation in London, Dublin and Belfast has been mounting that the IRA could respond before the summer marching season to Mr Adams’ appeal for the organisation to go in a new direction.
Irish Government sources have suggested the deadline for a response from the Provisionals will be Drumcree Sunday, July 10 – the day of Portadown’s infamous Drumcree Protestant Orange Order march.
Mr Ahern, who laid a foundation stone jointly with the Flemish Minister for Tourism Geert Bourgeois for a new residential complex to the Irish Peace Park, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the Good Friday Agreement.
He said: “I remain absolutely convinced that it is the only way forward in that it gives us a framework for peace, stability, justice and partnership that will benefit every citizen who shares the island of Ireland.”
