Adams seeks stronger hand for party’s negotiators

Sinn Fein is looking for a strengthened mandate when it returns to crucial peace process negotiations after the Westminster and local government elections, party leader Gerry Adams claimed today.

The West Belfast MP, launching his party’s local government campaign in Belfast, confirmed that all-party talks would begin immediately after counting of the Westminster and local government elections is over next month.

Mr Adams said it was essential that republicans going into talks on decommissioning, demilitarisation, policing and sanctions against Sinn Fein ministers had a strong voice.

"There are going to be negotiations after the elections," said the Sinn Fein president.

"They are going to be immediately after the counting is over.

"So ask yourself who are the tightest negotiators? Who are the people who are most imaginative?

"Who has worked with all the parties to work the agreement?

"Sinn Fein has. We want people to take ownership of the negotiations, to strengthen the hands of the republican negotiators and send a message on policing, the equality agenda, demilitarisation and a clear signal of the right to self-determination."

Mr Adams said he was "mystified" by Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble’s threat to resign as Northern Ireland first minister if there was no substantial progress on IRA disarmament.

"I am mystified by what he is trying to achieve by this threat to resign. It makes the elections irrelevant. It makes the role of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning irrelevant.

"He is dismissing the IRA’s initiative in respect of the arms dumps.

"I really do not know what he is trying to do. I do not know the benefits for his own party electorally.

"I am mystified at what he is trying to do in terms of the overall process."

The Sinn Fein leader said it was now up to the British and Irish governments and Prime Minister Tony Blair in particular to stand up to the Ulster Unionist leader and to tell him "that this is as good as it gets".

The West Belfast MP said he expected Sinn Fein to make significant gains in the local government and Westminster elections - particularly on Belfast City Council.

He said: "Since Alex Maskey was elected as the first Sinn Fein councillor in 1982 despite intimidation, murder attacks, censorship and ongoing efforts to smash Sinn Fein, our party has gone from strength to strength.

"Belfast was the cradle of Irish republicanism in 1798 (the United Irishmen’s Rebellion).

"In the last local government election, Republican Belfast sent a clear message that this is our city also, a shared city for all of the people.

"I am confident that post-election Sinn Fein will be at last in a position to elect the first republican Mayor of Belfast and once again offer real representation on Lisburn Council and for the first time ever on Castlereagh Council and Newtown Abbey."

Mr Adams was flanked by the party’s 18 local government candidates in Belfast at the launch of their campaign in the Waterfront Hall.

He was also joined by Sinn Fein’s six local government candidates in Lisburn and the two in Castlereagh.