Republican News · Thursday 9 January 2003

Sinn Féin still engaged

As bad weather delayed a crisis meeting between the Sinn Féin leadership and British Prime Minister Tony Blair until today, Gerry Adams said that "the ability of the Sinn Féin leadership and the two governments to devise a plan to sort out political crises has happened quite a few times in the last four years.

"Maybe it can be done again but even if we do that, the bar which the unionists have raised is very, very, very high indeed. I don't see any sense at this time of any section of unionism running into the elections prepared to engage on a pro-Agreement axis.

"It is my belief that these issues can be resolved, that the Agreement can be implemented. However, can this be done in the immediate time ahead? I don't know.

"The Sinn Féin leadership will continue to engage with the two governments and the rest of the parties. The onus however rests with the two governments and the British government in particular. We must see in the time ahead their plan to implement the Agreement in all its aspects."

Adams also confirmed that he is to meet with UUP leader David Trimble in the coming days.