Governments up against time to solve peace crisis

THE Irish and British Governments may only have two days to get the peace process back on track after its spectacular collapse on Tuesday.

Senior sources in Sinn Féin told the Irish Examiner last night that a very short window of time now existed for parties to overcome the crisis caused by the lack of detail in General John de Chastelain’s report on the IRA’s third act of decommissioning.

Sinn Féin’s concerns are that it will find it almost impossible to engage in negotiations as parties launch their campaigns for the November 26 election and positions become increasingly entrenched.

As intense negotiations resumed yesterday, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and UUP leader David Trimble held several telephone conversations.

The view emerging from both governments was that the only possibility of a breakthrough would come with the IRA lifting the veil of confidentiality surrounding its decommissioning act. This would assure the UUP that a substantial quantity of arms had been put beyond use.

However, as of last night, there was a sense that the possibility of this occurring was slim. In addition, republican sources gave no indication that the IRA would be prepared to yield any more ground.

The Taoiseach’s spokesperson said yesterday that he was “deeply disappointed and very upset” at the turn in events.

Mr Ahern revealed yesterday that he had been reluctant to travel to Hillsborough on Tuesday because he was wary that the decommissioning report would not be specific enough to appease Mr Trimble’s concerns. He was finally persuaded to travel by Mr Blair on Tuesday morning.

Mr Ahern told the Dáil that he had understood that he would be able to talk to General de Chastelain on Monday at 6.30pm but that had not happened. His first engagement with the general had been on Tuesday evening. “That did not help but I have to try and pick it up,” he said.

Mr Ahern sounded a note of caution about overcoming the problem. He stressed that both governments could not release the information at their disposal. That would bring the decommissioning process to an end, as it could drive the IRA from further participation in the scheme.

By contrast, Mr Blair was sounding a more positive note. He told the Commons that he was working hard to find a way to try and disclose the information. “Unionists need to be sure that what is being said is indeed a substantial act of decommissioning,” he said.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny yesterday suggested that if the remaining obstacle could not be overcome, the Government should consider postponing the November 26 election. “We certainly do not want to find ourselves in a more unstable political situation at the end of November,” he said.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte drew attention to the marginalisation of the SDLP in the process and expressed surprise at the Taoiseach’s admission of reluctance to travel.

He said experienced negotiators like Mr Ahern and Mr Blair tended to “to arrive only when there are one or two loose ends to tie up . . . It is clear that at the 12th hour, there has been a major breakdown of communication.”