Adams to make keynote speech on power sharing
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams is due to deliver a keynote address today on the forthcoming review of the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Adams is expected to address his party’s concerns about how the agreement is being implemented and also outline its approach in the coming months.
The West Belfast MP is also preparing to address his party’s views on the approach of Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists to the review.
The DUP, which emerged the largest party in Northern Ireland in November’s Assembly election, is expected to press for radical changes to the agreement when the review gets under way, possibly on January 29 or February 3.
However, Sinn Féin and the SDLP have insisted the Good Friday Agreement will not be renegotiated.
In recent weeks, republicans have been critical of the British and Irish governments’ handling of the agreement and the setting up of a commission to monitor paramilitary activity and the implementation of the Good Friday accord.
Sinn Féin’s chief negotiator Martin McGuinness last night confirmed that he would lobby international leaders and opinion formers attending next week’s World Economic Forum in Switzerland to put pressure on the two governments and especially Tony Blair’s government to fulfil their commitment.
Mr McGuinness will join Northern Ireland leaders in Davos next Thursday for a special session at the forum focusing on the peace process.
The Mid Ulster MP said he would reiterate his view that “the two governments must not be paralysed by negative unionism and that they must fulfil their commitment under the terms of the agreement.
“An anti-agreement minority cannot be allowed to override the wishes of the vast majority of the people of Ireland.
“Democratic and human rights are not conditional.
“The British government should immediately lift their unilateral suspension of the political institutions and proceed with the equality, human rights and demilitarisation agendas without further delay.”
