Politicians urged not to wreck hopes of deal

NORTHERN politicians were told yesterday by the British Government not to squander the opportunity to restore devolved government if the IRA lived up to its promise to fully disarm and commit to peace.

Political Development Minister David Hanson said the opportunity of restoring devolution following action by the IRA must be grasped.

In his first keynote address since taking over the political brief - and the first by any Northern Ireland Office minister since the IRA’s July statement - he urged the political parties to seize the opportunity to restore devolution.

“If the words in the IRA’s statement are borne out in actions, there will be a heavy responsibility on all politicians in Northern Ireland to ensure that the opportunity to establish stable and inclusive institutions is not squandered,” the minister stressed.

As the countdown to expected action by the IRA continued, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams had talks in Belfast with US President George Bush’s special Ireland envoy Mitchell Reiss.

Speaking in Belfast, Mr Hanson said the clarity of the last IRA statement and its lack of conditions marked it out as different to statements they had previously made.

“It commits the IRA to peaceful means and to a complete cessation of all activities,” he said.

Mr Hanson said IRA commitments would have to be independently verified and translated into action.