Photographer was ready for disarmament pictures
An international photographer was being lined up to provide visual evidence of IRA disarmament in the event of a landmark Northern Ireland peace process deal, it emerged today.
As British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern prepared to reveal in Belfast their 23-page formula for reviving power sharing, details emerged of the lengths to which London and Dublin were prepared to go.
They involved hiring an international photographer to produce evidence for unionists of the IRA destroying its weapons.
The photograph would have been published.
The proposal, which sources insist have been in the governments’ blueprint since September’s Leeds Castle talks in Kent, has been rejected by republicans because they fear they would be used by the Rev Ian Paisley to humiliate them.
This was rejected today by Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson.
The Lagan Valley MP said: “The IRA has shown propaganda videos and photographs in the past of their members carrying weapons and those were used to terrorise people.
“However, when it comes to photographs showing weapons being destroyed, they are suddenly claiming photographs would be a humiliation.
“There was a real prospect today of a comprehensive settlement on the table. There was the prospect of real peace on the cusp of Christmas but that has been scuppered by republicans.”
Sinn Féin denied today that its negotiators had signed up to the proposal of a photograph accompanying decommissioning.
The IRA confirmed last night that it had been in talks with the head of the international disarmament body, General John de Chastelain.
It is believed the Provisionals would have accepted a proposal that two clergymen, one Protestant and one Catholic, should witness the putting of weapons beyond use.
The organisation was also believed to be preparing for a deal which would have seen them move away from violence and paramilitarism for good.
But its leaders regarded a photograph of disarmament as a step too far.
North Belfast Assembly member Gerry Kelly said: “This was an issue raised by Ian Paisley, promulgated by the two governments.
“But this was to have been dealt with by the IICD and the IRA which was prepared to contribute to a comprehensive agreement.
“There is this emphasis on the photographic issue but you have to listen to what Ian Paisley has been saying, which is that he wants public humiliation.
“So whatever the demands might be, his specific demand is that there should be humiliation. In terms of conflict resolution and peace processes, that is not a demand which can advance the situation.”
Having invested so much in the quest for a comprehensive settlement, Blair and Ahern were expected today not to give up on ever achieving a deal.
Sources expected both leaders to attempt a soft landing for the process, stressing the progress which has been made in recent months.
But with Mr Blair facing a likely general election next year and the presidencies of the European Union and G8, it is believed that opportunities to close the remaining gaps will be limited in 2005.
