Unionists want limited agenda
By Marcas Mac Ruairi
THE Stormont talks broke for Christmas on Tuesday with Unionists
refusing to agree that everything must be on the table for
discussion.
The negotiations had been streamlined to two members of each
party in recent weeks in order to facilitate a dialogue which
could set an agenda. But this effort also fell foul of Unionist
intransigence.
The difficulties are not being seen as a structural problem with
the talks, but rather the result of a deliberate policy of
prevarication the Unionists have adopted in an attempt to stall
progress.
Under David Trimble's leadership, the UUP has dug in and refused
to accept certain proposals for discussion. His party has failed
to come to terms with the fact that this is a negotiation
process. As such there can be no party with a veto on any areas
for discussion
d with the talks now suspended until the New Year with no
progress to report, the whole process is in danger of losing
credibility.
Both the London and Dublin governments now need to take on board
that Unionist tactics cannot be allowed to retard the opportunity
to resolve the conflict in Ireland.
What is required to move the process forward are broad areas of
agreement for discussion, a compehensive list of issues for
debate prepared by the Chairman, Senator George Mitchell and an
agreed format for the discussion.
If the talks are to succeed, no one party can be allowed to
preclude issues from debate. Both governments must realise this
and take steps to ensure that the process is not jeopardised by
Unionist intransigence.
With deadlock remaining at the agenda for talks, the parties will
reconvene at Stormont on 12 January.
For its part, Sinn Féin has once more reiterated that it is
coming to the negotiating table with its own agenda, but will
nonetheless listen to and engage with all other parties on
whatever issues they choose to put on the table.
Party President Gerry Adams said: ``We went into this phase of
talks with a clear understanding that there could not be a SInn
Féin wish list or a Unionist wish list, that there had to be an
inclusiveness which allowed other people's issues to be put down
for resolution.''
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