Pursuit of peace to go on

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night promised to continue to pursue elements of the joint declaration of the Irish and British Governments despite the postponement of Northern Assembly elections yesterday.

"We will implement some aspects of the joint declaration where it is possible to do so. And we will use the basis of the Joint Declaration for the ongoing work of building trust and confidence over the coming months," said Mr Ahern, adding his regret that the document could not be released in the context that was intended.

The Government's Joint Declaration which was originally due to be published on April 10, but was withheld pending IRA clarification of its intentions contains proposals aimed at the completion of the Good Friday Agreement.

The declaration spells out in detail exactly what the two governments believe is required for the transition to a democratic society and the ending of paramilitary activity and sectarian violence.

It also details the type of IRA activity behind the word plays and clarifications of recent weeks. According to the section of the declaration dealing with paramilitary activity: "Ongoing paramilitary activity, sectarian violence, and criminality masquerading as a political cause, are all corrosive of the trust and confidence that are necessary to sustain a durable political process."

The document goes on to call a complete and permanent end to all activity such as military attacks, training, targeting, intelligence gathering, acquisition or development of arms or weapons, other preparations for terrorist campaigns, punishment beatings and attacks and involvement in riots.

Other measures indicated by the British Government are specifically aimed at easing nationalist concerns and state that the British authorities would:

l be prepared to give up their authority to suspend the Northern institutions.

limplement a major programme of security normalisation, closing all but 14 British Army bases and reducing Army numbers to 5,000 by 2005.

lbring forward new legislation to deal with those former terrorists on the run, allowing them to return home to Northern Ireland without serving prison time.

Crucially, the requirement of both governments that paramilitary groups show a willingness to embrace peace is referred to several times. The declaration reads: "Should these groups fail to respond positively and decide instead to pursue criminal activities, such a course will not be tolerated. The governments will not allow a criminal minority, of whatever persuasion, to dash the hopes and ambitions of the great majority of people who wish to see long-term peace, normality and prosperity."

The Taoiseach and Tony Blair stressed last night that the Joint Declaration was still a working document. "It is an active document with an ongoing purpose. When people have a chance to read it they will see that it is a very serious initiative," said Mr Ahern.