Adams and Trimble set for crisis talks
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble are due to hold emergency talks today at Stormont to address the crisis in Northern Ireland’s peace process.
With Mr Trimble threatening to resign as First Minister in a bid to force the Government to take sanctions against republicans over alleged IRA activities in Colombia, the two leaders are due to meet at 3pm.
Pressure is mounting on Mr Adams to reassure the Ulster Unionist leader about republican intentions towards the peace process.
However Mr Trimble is also being urged to adopt a tough stance towards republicans following demands from Ulster Unionist hardliners that Sinn Fein ministers be expelled from the Stormont Executive.
With Prime Minister Tony Blair due to meet the SDLP in London later today, Dr Reid argued: ‘‘We understand that there is a confidence in the peace process which needs to be injected.
‘‘When we embarked on this I think there was a great euphoria. Everyone believed it would be relatively easy and what people have recognised since then is that it needs constant application...and that is why we decided to bring the parties together at this stage to try to put some momentum into the process.’’
