Republican News · Thursday 17 April 2003

Publish the Declaration

As we go to print, the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle is meeting in Julianstown County Meath. They are engaged in a detailed discussion of the latest developments in the peace process, after being briefed by party chair Mitchel McLaughlin.

Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams, who had been due to brief the party leadership, stayed in Belfast to remain in contact with the two governments in an effort to secure progress.

Over the last ten days, Sinn Féin leaders have been involved in round the clock discussions with the Irish and British governments and the pro-Agreement parties to try and secure the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and advance the peace process.

More than at any other time in the process, we have seen the two governments engage in a deluge of damaging spin and propaganda and people around the country have watched with growing concern as they continue to refuse to produce the Joint Declaration - the product of four and a half months of work.

Speaking as the Ard Chomhairle met, party chair Mitchel McLaughlin said that one of the difficulties is that the unionists have left their negotiation to the British government. "Regrettably, in my view, there are those within unionism and within the British system who are still locked into the old agenda - who want to demolish the peace process, not build it," said McLaughlin. "There is no clarity or certainty around UUP intentions." He was speaking after very negative comments from Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble.

In an exclusive interview with An Phoblacht, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams points out that while there is no certainty of completion in the Joint Declaration - it is full of conditionality within a protracted process - the IRA statement is clear and unambiguous.

"Even the British government has acknowledged that it shows the desire of the IRA to make the peace process work," he says. "That is an unprecedented development. It should be built on. The two governments should publish their Joint Declaration; the British government should lift the suspension of the institutions and move to the election of a new Assembly."