Can governments' proposals deliver?
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, in an initial response to the
proposals issued by the London and Dublin governments, said that
Sinn Féin is coming to this document critically but in a
constructive frame of mind.
Speaking at a p[ress conference in Belfast, Adams said: ``I am
very mindful of the tragic backdrop to this morning's
announcement and the anxiety and grief of many people at this
difficult time.
``The Sinn Féin leadership has been consistent and clear about how
we will view any package from the two governments. The
governments promised at the end of the Weston Park talks to bring
forward a final package for the full and early implementation of
the Good Friday Agreement.
``The context in which Sinn Féin will form a view of these
proposals will be to put them to the test of the Good Friday
Agreement.''
Matters like policing, the political institutions,
demilitarisation, the arms issue, human rights, the justice
system and the equality agenda, are all ``stand alone'' issues to
be resolved in their own right, said Adams.
He added that the democratic rights and entitlements of
nationalists and republicans cannot be conditional. ``These rights
are universal rights and they benefit everyone,'' said the West
Belfast MP.
``Our approach will be to engage constructively to see if what is
currently proposed has the potential to finally implement the
Good Friday Agreement, as promised by the two governments. That
process requires the governments to provide and make public the
details of what they are proposing.
``The Ard Chomhairle of Sinn Féin is to meet on Friday to examine
the governments' package. We will continue to engage with both
governments and all the parties to ensure that the Good Friday
Agreement is implemented in full.''
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