US backs Ireland and Britain in pressing IRA
The US today backed Ireland and Britain in urging the IRA to renounce violence in clear terms.
Holding out for new and better terms is unlikely to be productive, said Richard Haass, director of the State Department’s policy planning office.
The latest overture for peace in Northern Ireland was described as “quite conditional and uncertain” by Haass, the administration’s point man for Northern Ireland issues.
Speaking of the Good Friday agreement, which former President Bill Clinton helped achieve with persistent, personal diplomacy, Haass said “any fair judge would say it’s brought considerable improvement to the people in Northern Ireland. But it’s lost some momentum in the collapse of local institutions.”
At this point, the US official said the IRA is not providing “the necessary confidence and trust to move forward.”
However, Haass said the Bush administration still believes it is possible to get “satisfactory answers” from the IRA on full disarmament and a commitment to end its conflict.
“We are going to remain involved, regardless,” he said.
Haass said “things have clearly reached a point in Northern Ireland in which political ends cannot be achieved through the use of force.”
However, he acknowledged that what is being asked of Northern Ireland was not “small beer.”
If the IRA does not come forward with clarity, Haass said, ”we will look for ways to revive diplomacy.”
But he said the IRA should not expect “a different package” of proposals. The call for an end to violence will not be retracted, Haass said.
