NI power sharing talks still finely balanced

Talks aimed at restoring power sharing in Northern Ireland remained on a knife edge tonight as Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionists still sought assurances about a deal.

With both parties under pressure to reject or accept proposals from the British and Irish governments by Tuesday, the Reverend Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists were still trying to establish whether the IRA would allow photographic evidence of disarmament.

Sinn Féin was also seeking a guarantee from the DUP that it would share power with the party in the event of a deal and operate the political institutions in good faith.

A talks source said: “At this stage it’s still hard to say whether there will be a deal or not.

“There is no doubt this weekend is absolutely crucial to both parties. They know the time for reaching a decision is fast approaching.”

DUP negotiators insist visual arms decommissioning by the IRA is critical to their acceptance of any deal.

The party has arranged talks with the head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, General John de Chastelain on Monday, in a move which was welcomed today by Sinn Féin’s Mitchel McLaughlin.

In October last year, a deal to revive power sharing between Sinn Féin and David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists stalled because General John de Chastelain was restricted in what he could say about the IRA’s third act of weapons decommissioning.

DUP sources believe a photograph or video verifying decommissioning would instil unionist confidence in the process.

Mitchel McLaughlin said today the issue was a matter for the IRA in its talks with General de Chastelain.

“The Good Friday Agreement has an effective and functional way of dealing with the issue of putting arms beyond use,” the Foyle Assembly member said.

“Hopefully this meeting (between the DUP and General de Chastelain) will lead to a better understanding of that process.

“People are obviously at this stage offering advice and making suggestions.

“Some people who do not have the power to deal with this issue are making demands but the reality is that at the end of the day there will either be a voluntary initiative (from the IRA) or there won’t.

“In terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the IRA have taken initiatives which have advanced the process in the past and, at times, have in reality saved the process.

“That track record is there which is more than can be said for others.”

Mr McLaughlin also indicated his party had two core issues which still needed to be addressed.

But in the event of there being no deal, he also said Sinn Féin would have no problem with it being published by the British and Irish governments.

He said that if it departed from the Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Féin would point out the deal’s deficiencies if it were published.

US President George W Bush has offered his government’s help to Sinn Féin and the DUP in securing a deal.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams is expected to meet his party officers board in Belfast on Monday to discuss the state of negotiations.

Mr Paisley will also travel to Downing Street on Monday for a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.