sinnfeinnews.com, May 23, 2005
Only way forward is through the Good Friday Agreement
by Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams speaking in Belfast this morning said "The
DUP leader Ian Paisley declared recently that the Good Friday Agreement is
dead. The reality, acknowledged by the Taoiseach on Friday, is that any move
forward in this post-election period has to be bedded in the Good Friday
Agreement and in the acceptance by the DUP of the Agreement's core
principles."
Mr. Adams said:
"In the negotiations at the end of last year Sinn Fein insisted that the
core principles and fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement had to be
defended. As a result the DUP moved reluctantly to accept the fundamentals
of the Agreement, which was expressed in those elements of the Comprehensive
Agreement published by the two governments last December, which dealt with
the Good Friday Agreement.
"The DUP leader Ian Paisley declared recently that the Good Friday Agreement
is dead. The reality, acknowledged by the Taoiseach on Friday, is that any
move forward in this post-election period has to be bedded in the Good
Friday Agreement and in the acceptance by the DUP of the Agreement's core
principles. These include:
· Power-sharing government on the basis of the d'Hondt formula;
· Working with Sinn Fein in the Executive and in the joint office of the
First and Deputy First Ministers;
· Full participation in the other institutions established under the Good
Friday Agreement including the all-Ireland Ministerial Council;
· The transfer of powers on policing and justice to the Executive;
· Developing the all-Ireland institutions;
· Accepting the need for equality and human rights;
· Measures to counter sectarianism and racism;
· Using their influence to remove all guns from society, including the
weapons of Ulster Resistance.
"There is now an unprecedented opportunity to move forward. But this can
only be achieved on the basis of equality, inclusion and mutual respect. The
DUP can be part of the process of change or they can opt out. But they
cannot veto progress. If they do not come on board, then the responsibility
falls to the two governments s to make progress with the parties who are
committed to the Agreement and to moving forward in partnership and
co-operation.
"Obviously there must be a little space to allow the governments to make
this clear to the DUP and to prepare the way forward. This has to include
preparations to ensure the Orange Marching season is peaceful. The DUP has a
role to play in this. So too do the Loyal Orders. But the main
responsibility lies with both governments. They have to ensure that people
can live free from sectarian harassment. This includes freedom from
contentious parades."ENDS
