SF: Assembly election date 'crucial'

The setting of a date for Assembly elections in Northern Ireland is crucial if Sinn Féin is to make any approach to the IRA during sensitive peace-process negotiations, Martin McGuinness claimed today.

After a meeting between the Sinn Féin leadership and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, the Mid-Ulster MP said he believed “the atmosphere is good” between the parties.

The Sinn Féin chief negotiator said after the meeting in London: “There is a recognition that we are all in this together and that we all have a responsibility to resolve the impasse.

“We in Sinn Féin hope the unionists are taking us in good faith and we are certainly taking them in good faith.

“Obviously the British and Irish Governments also have a role in all of this.

“But may I say we in Sinn Féin believe that elections need to take place because they are a basic right.

“From our point of view we see the election as an accelerator in the process and certainly we will not be going to the IRA without an election date.

“The election is crucial from our perspective.”

Mr McGuinness repeated his view that there remained ``a narrow window of opportunity'' to resolve the problems in the peace process.

“The next 10 days are going to be absolutely critical,” the former Stormont Education Minister said.

“I think we have only until the end of next week or maybe one or two days beyond that.”

Mr McGuinness criticised those who claimed republicans were finding it difficult to step up to the mark on the issue of paramilitary activity.

He claimed: “I do believe there is an active campaign by someone or some individuals to sabotage our current endeavours.

“People need to be mindful of what is behind a lot of the spinning and comments being floated on the airwaves and in newspapers about these negotiations.”