Successful Washington trip for Adams
The St Patrick's Day celebrations and political discussions in
Washington were completely overshadowed by the brutal killing of
human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson. Speaking on his arrival in
Washington Gerry Adams described Rosemary as ``a brave and courageous
women who refused to allow state violence and intimidation deter her
from the task of defending human rights and speaking out against
injustice. Particularly the mass intimidation and siege of the
nationalist community on the Garvaghy Road. Rosemary's life was an
example of how one person can make a difference in standing up for
truth and justice''.
UUP leader David Trimble outraged everyone when he publicly, and
privately in meetings with US politicians, accused republicans of
responsibility for the bomb attack.
Elements of the British media again tried to set Gerry Adams agenda
in the US by claiming that President Clinton was set to exert serious
pressure on Sinn Fein to secure IRA decommissioning.
As usual the truth was very different. There was no pressure from the
White House, no criticism of Sinn Fein from Congress members or
Senators but a general acknowledgement of the enormous contribution
republicans have played in creating and sustaining the peace process.
During his two days in Washington, Gerry Adams met Senators Chris
Dodd and Teddy Kennedy, as well as the International Relations
Committee of the Congress which will hold hearings in April on the
RUC. The Sinn Fein leader also had a one hour meeting on St Patrick's
evening with President Clinton which Adams described as ``very
friendly, positive and constructive''. The US President made clear to
the Sinn Fein delegation his willingness to do all that he and his
administration can to help break the current impasse and move the
peace process forward. The meeting, which was held in the Oval
Office, also included Sandy Berger the National Security Advisor and
his deputy Jim Steinberg. Gerry Adams was accompanied by Rita O'Hare,
Friends of Sinn Fein President Larry Downes and Richard McAuley.
Later Gerry Adams held a thirty minute discussion with UUP leader
David Trimble in an office provided by the US President. Speaking
afterwards Adams expressed his regret that Mr Trimble had not used
the opportunity in Washington to indicate his willingness to meet the
Garvaghy Road residents. The Sinn Fein president said, ``the meeting
with Mr Trimble was cordial, but I have to say that he showed no
evidence whatsoever of changing his position and of making demands on
me which I cannot deliver-and he knows that''.
Mr Adams revealed that for the first time the UUP leader spelt out
his demands: ``David Trimble made it very, very clear that he wants
from the IRA what he described as an ``event'' that he wants it to be
larger than the LVF event - a multiplier of three or four times, he
wants it to encompass weapons, detonators, timers and explosives and
he wants it to be done in a credible and verifiable manner. And this
event must be the first of a series of such ``events''. I pointed out
to him once again that I just couldn't deliver that, it isn't
possible''.
The Sinn Fein leader spoke of his willingness to ``stretch'' the
republican constituency in an effort to advance the peace process but
made it clear that David Trimble would have to be ``in the loop''. ``I
am prepared to reach out, but I want to make sure that Mr Trimble and
I jump together on this. But I stress it has to be within the terms
of the agreement and I cannot deliver from the IRA what the British
government couldn't achieve in the last thirty years''.
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