Sinn Féin News, June 14, 2006
North Belfast:
Historic agreement reached on Orange parade
The Ardoyne Dialogue Group (Ardoyne residents) and the North and West Parades Forum
(forum of Orange Order, Loyalists, Unionists)
"yesterday released a joint statement ahead of the Orange Order's
controversial Tour of the North march on Friday.
Referring to violence at previous parades, both groups vow to "secure the
peaceful conduct of parades and any associated protests", while committing
themselves to further dialogue."
Nationalist residents and members of the loyalist community have reached an
unprecedented accommodation in a bid to end a parades dispute in north
Belfast.
The series of evening parades, involving 1,000 Orangemen and 22 bands, will
take them past five different flash-points in north Belfast which have been
the scene for serious sectarian clashes. The most contentious leg of the
march takes loyalists past nationalist homes along the Crumlin Road.
Nationalist residents have been involved in a talks process since April with
the loyalist North and West Belfast Parades Forum.
Sinn Féin Councillor for the Ardoyne area Margaret McClenaghan today praised
the work undertaken by the Ardoyne Dialogue Group in the run up to this
Friday's Tour of the North Orange parade.
Cllr. McClenaghan said:
"The Ardoyne Dialogue Group in partnership with the local community have
engaged in a process with the North and West Parades Forum which it is hoped
will enable local people to get on with their lives with minimal disruption
or sectarian harassment. I commend the work they done and I would appeal to
people, particularly from outside the area not to do anything on Friday
night which will undermine this work."
Both groups yesterday released a joint statement ahead of the Orange Order's
controversial Tour of the North march on Friday.
Referring to violence at previous parades, both groups vow to "secure the
peaceful conduct of parades and any associated protests", while committing
themselves to further dialogue.
They also speak of a willingness to compromise in the interests of securing
agreement, and the need for this to continue.
Parades Commission chairman Roger Poole praised the "respect, trust and
willingness" of both sides.
"They have demonstrated that accommodation can be reached without the
surrender of valued principles," said Mr Poole.
"Hopefully that lesson can be taken on board across Belfast and across
Northern Ireland."
Ardoyne Parades Dialogue Group spokesman, Joe Marley, welcomed the joint
statement.
He said: "There is obviously a long way to go in the efforts to achieve a
lasting resolution to the issue of contentious parades on the Crumlin Road.
"We recognise however, that the initiative by the North and West Belfast
Parades Forum can help build confidence in the negotiations process."
Ardoyne priest Fr Aidan Troy described the agreement as a hugely significant
step.
"All credit to both sides because they were coming from a position of zero
contact. I am so encouraged," he said.
