Adams calls for 'collective focus'

After Sinn Fein's meeting with Ambassador Haass in Belfast, Mr Adams called for a collective focus from all parties and the British and Irish governments to fully implement the Good Friday Agreement.

The west Belfast MP, who was joined at the meeting by former Sinn Fein devolved ministers Martin McGuinness and Bairbre de Brun and Sein Fein MP Michelle Gildernew, described the talks as “constructive”.

“This meeting was part of a series of discussions we have had with Mr Haass - I met him in Washington last week and Martin met him just before that,” he said.

“It is very clear from the stream of dialogue which has taken place that he is very focussed and understands clearly that tomorrow’s talks are not going to be a single item agenda.

“We again expressed our concern about the suspension of the political institutions by the British government and its failure to honour its obligations under the Agreement – a fact acknowledged by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in his speech in Belfast last month.

“I have to say I am not encouraged by Paul Murphy’s comments that tomorrow’s discussions at Stormont will seek to explore why the institutions were suspended.

“It is clear that the institutions were suspended by a unilateral decision from the British government and that it had a deep impact on confidence.

“Tomorrow’s meeting will have to deal with all of the outstanding issues in the Agreement which must be implemented collectively and the governments are going to have to shape up.”