SDLP to meet Government over exclusion
Northern Ireland’s SDLP was today expected to vent its frustration over its exclusion from recent talks to revitalise the peace process during a meeting with the Government.
As Sinn Féin and Ulster Unionist negotiators tried to overcome the remaining obstacles to a deal on reviving devolution, an SDLP delegation, including party chairman Alex Attwood and former Stormont Finance Minister Sean Farren, was travelling to Dublin for talks with Foreign Minister Brian Cowen.
The party has been angered by its exclusion from crucial talks at Downing Street on Monday involving British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, US President George Bush’s special envoy to Northern Ireland Richard Haass, Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionists.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said after a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy yesterday if the latest attempt to forge a deal collapsed, London and Dublin could not blame the other Northern Ireland parties.
The former Foyle MLA noted: “It is a full year since suspension (of the Assembly).
“During that time, we have seen endless negotiations between the problem parties, Sinn Féin and the UUP. Yet so far neither has signed up fully to the Joint Declaration. Neither has lived up fully to the Agreement.
“The UUP still tries to dodge working the institutions. The republican movement still tries to duck ending paramilitary activity.
“It is time to stop the rot. The British government must fix a date for November elections now. A fixed election date creates its own incentives for progress.”
Talks sources have reported an improved atmosphere between David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists and Sinn Féin but insist there are still issues to be dealt with before a deal can be struck.
US peace process envoy Richard Haass was also upbeat during his visit to Belfast yesterday, arguing that he had not seen as good an engagement between the two parties in all his time monitoring developments in Northern Ireland.
Despite this, political parties and the British and Irish Governments appear to have given up any hope of Assembly elections taking place on November 13.
With the British government giving unionists and republicans more time to close a deal, talks sources believe a poll will be held next month, with Thursday November 27 the most natural date.
However, British government sources have also signalled an election need not be held on a Thursday.
Following talks with Mr Haass yesterday, Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey said they hoped to secure an election next month.
Ulster Unionists have also taken heart from Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’ insistence outside Downing Street on Monday that his party wanted to secure an election in the best possible political climate for pro-Agreement parties.
However, a warning shot to David Trimble’s negotiating team was fired last night by three Ulster Unionist rebel MPs.
Jeffrey Donaldson, David Burnside and the Reverend Martin Smyth insisted the IRA must “effectively wind up their paramilitary organisation” if power-sharing between unionists and Sinn Féin was to be restored in the province.
Anything less than disbandment would not be acceptable, they said.
