Paisley accuses republicans of delay in deal
The IRA has not contacted disarmament inspectors despite the looming deadline for reaching a Northern Ireland peace deal, Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley claimed today.
But while Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams suggested his arch political enemy may be inching towards a settlement that revives the Stormont power-sharing administration, the DUP leader railed against deadlines set by London and Dublin.
Emerging from fresh talks with General John de Chastelain, head of the International Decommissioning body, Mr Paisley accused republicans of holding up the process.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has already warned the two sides they have just a few days left to do business.
With British Prime Minister Tony Blair also cranking up the pressure, Mr Paisley said: “It is amazing that the Prime Minister is in the business of setting deadlines for the incoming week when this most important matter has not been discussed with those whom we expect to decommission their illegal arsenal.
“We are not going to be bluffed or buy a pig in a poke on a matter which affects the lives of the future and present generation of Ulster people.”
The DUP has been pressing for photographic evidence of any new IRA disarmament and for the process of putting weapons beyond use to be completed before agreeing to sit in government with Sinn Féin.
That demand has been a major sticking point in the efforts to achieve a deal, although it is possible that Catholic and Protestant clergy could witness an act of disarmament by the IRA along with General de Chastelain.
Republicans came under further pressure today for pictures to show disarmament when nationalist SDLP Assembly member Alex Attwood claimed they owed it to the people of Ireland.
The DUP has also been anxious to ensure any attempt by the IRA to complete decommissioning is presented properly during the rolling out of a deal.
The party does not want a repeat of the problems of October 2003 when Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble had to pull out of a deal because of a lack of detail in Gen de Chastelain’s account of the third instalment of IRA disarmament.
If a deal is struck next week, it is understood it will be underpinned by a financial package from the British government called the Infrastructure Investment Fund.
The Irish Government is also believed to have conceded on a key republican demand for the right of Northern Ireland politicians to participate in debates in the Dáil.
It is believed Northern Ireland’s three MEPs will be offered, under the deal, the chance to take part in debates.
As Mr Paisley led his party into talks with General de Chastelain in east Belfast, Mr Adams hit out at the DUP leader’s comments that he would have to “swallow hard” before agreeing a political truce with republicans.
Crucially, however, the West Belfast MP claimed his bitter rival may be coming round to an inevitability.
“The language he used is totally unacceptable and I think lots of people would find it very, very provocative,” Mr Adams said.
“It does make the whole issue of getting an agreement very frustrating indeed.
“But it’s also the first begrudging, mixed up, angry, convoluted acknowledgement by Ian Paisley of Sinn Féin’s mandate.”
He warned that any settlement would not involve his community being beaten down.
“This is not about humiliation. The days of humiliation are over,” he stressed.
Mr Adams accepted that Mr Paisley was facing difficulties in what he described as the latest stage of his career journey.
And he was unable to predict whether the DUP was genuinely ready to reach a settlement as the pressure mounts.
“I don’t know, and if I may say so, I don’t know if anyone else knows.
“There’s a small possibility that even Ian Paisley doesn’t know.
“There are difficulties in all of this but there aren’t many days left.
“I think the important thing is just that Ian Paisley says yes, but he should say yes now.”
