Sanctions undermining bid to resolve arms issue

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble was warned tonight that his sanctions against Sinn Fein were undermining attempts to resolve the issue of paramilitary disarmament.

Stormont Sinn Fein ministers Martin McGuinness and Bairbre de Brun called on the Northern Ireland First Minister to abide by a High Court judgment declaring his ban on them attending meetings of the North South Ministerial Council unlawful.

In a letter to Mr Trimble, the Health and Education Ministers claimed he was "continuing to act in clear breach" of the Good Friday Agreement by sticking to his ban on them attending cross border body meetings.

They also noted: "You have also given notice in an interview with the BBC on March 11 that you intend to persist in acting both illegally and with impunity in respect of these matters.

"This is entirely in keeping with the wreckers charter you put to the UUC (Ulster Unionist Council).

"We would also remind you of your obligation on the arms issue under the terms of the Agreement.

"Much of the difficulties we have all encountered since Easter 1998 is in no small measure down to the fact that you have consistently sought to mislead popular opinion and especially popular Unionist opinion about the terms of the Agreement on this matter.

"Under the terms of the Agreement you have an obligation which you share collectively with the two governments and the other pro-Agreement parties to use any influence you may have to resolve this issue. You are not doing this.

"On the contrary your approach has not served to resolve the issue but to make its resolution all the more difficult.

"How on earth you expect this to be resolved by allowing anti-Agreement opinion to set the agenda defies logic. We refuse to believe that this is lost on you."

Mr Trimble introduced the sanctions at a meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council on October 27 last year in a bid to force IRA decommissioning.

Unionists argue the sanctions are necessary to force the IRA to engage seriously with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.

Republicans, however, insist that the issue of IRA arms was inter-linked with the Government honouring its commitments on police reform and the scaling down of military installations in the province and on the full working of all the political institutions.

In a surprise move, the IRA earlier this month took part in a meeting with the IICD.

However, Unionists have not lifted the sanctions, saying they would not do so until they are satisfied that the paramilitary organisation is discussing the means of putting its weapons beyond use.

Mr Trimble has also indicated that he intends to challenge the High Court ruling declaring his ban on Mr McGuinness and Ms de Brun unlawful.