Republican movement must make move - Durkan

Many Americans believe the IRA has the capacity to make “a significant move” in the peace process which could break the political deadlock at Stormont, a nationalist leader claimed today.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan, MLA for Foyle, called on republicans to address the concerns of others in the process about paramilitarism after meeting Richard Haass, United States President George Bush’s special advisor on Northern Ireland, in a Belfast hotel.

Mr Durkan said: “Many people, including people in the American political situation, do believe that the republican movement certainly has the capacity and has the room to make a significant movement.

“They also recognise that is what the process needs. They also recognise that is what the (Good Friday) Agreement requires.

“So it’s down to the republican movement to make the moves that are needed and that everybody else knows has to be made and can be made.”

The SDLP was the first in a series of parties today to discuss efforts to revive the Assembly and power sharing institutions with Mr Haass, who was later due to meet the cross-community Alliance Party, the Women’s Coalition, the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party, as well as Sinn Fein and the anti-Agreement Democratic Unionists.

He has already had talks with the Irish and British governments and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble.

Mr Durkan’s comments come after a senior Sinn Fein source moved last night to dampen down speculation of an imminent move by the IRA.

Recent press speculation about a fresh initiative from the IRA had “no basis“, the source insisted.

He also warned that Dublin and London republicans believed “any demand for the surrender of the IRA was unrealisable.”

In a challenge to the Irish and British governments to produce a formula next week for breaking the impasse, the Sinn Fein source said: “Both Mr Blair and the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are coming here next week and they intend to meet all parties individually.

“We would hope that it is their intention to put their plan for the way ahead to the parties.

“They have met a number of the parties, various parties individually on a number of occasions since the British government suspended the institutions.

“Presumably they are well aware of all the views of the parties and certainly well aware of our view. Sinn Fein has provided both governments with a comprehensive document outlining the areas of the Agreement which have not been implemented.

“Now the only possible purpose of next week’s meeting is for the governments to spell out their plan and we are anxious to hear what they have to say.”

With republicans demanding more police and criminal justice reforms, a comprehensive programme for the dismantling of military installations and the implementation of equality, human rights and Irish language commitments under the Good Friday Agreement, the source said both governments knew what they must do.

But he said the parties and governments were still too far away from a deal.

Mr Haass said after a meeting in Dublin yesterday with foreign minister Brian Cowen that there was a real opportunity now to make progress in Northern Ireland, and that the US was urging that everything should be done to take advantage of it.

“We, for our part, stand ready to help in the on-going efforts to solve the situation in Northern Ireland. We are doing whatever we can to bring about action,” he said.

“And what we are calling for at this time is bold thinking and bold acting.”