Blair: Unionists must compromise if SF complies
Unionists in Northern Ireland must be prepared to go into government with Sinn Féin if republican paramilitary activity ceases, British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned today.
Tony Blair said the challenge was double-sided: the IRA must renounce violence completely but all the political parties must come together and make the devolved institutions work.
Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be assessing the prospects for restoring devolution when they meet Northern Ireland parties in London on Friday.
Mr Blair stressed: “If the IRA do definitely and clearly cease paramilitary activity and give it up, so that campaign of violence in all its aspects becomes a thing of the past, I hope that the DUP and the UUP will be prepared to go into government with them.
“In my view the challenge is for the IRA to give up violence completely but then the challenge is for all the parties to come together and make the executive and all the institutions work.”
