Republican News · Thursday 13 March 2003

Sinn Féin brief Diplomatic Corps on ongoing peace talks

Work on outstanding issues to continue

Sinn Féin Dáil spokesperson on International Affairs, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, and the head of the party's International Department, Joan O'Connor, on Monday briefed 29 members of the Diplomatic Corps on the ongoing negotiations between Sinn Féin and the British and Irish governments and the pro-Agreement parties. They also discussed the pending war in Iraq.

Among those in attendance were representatives from the following embassies - Australia, South Africa, Palestine, France, Italy, Spain, China, Belgium and Mexico.

Speaking following the briefing, Ó Snodaigh said:

"I outlined that while substantial progress had been made over a range of issues, including new legislation on policing and criminal justice, demilitarisation, equality and human rights issues. There are also gaps and our party will continue to negotiate on these matters over the coming weeks.

"We also outlined our concerns in relation to attempts to bring forward sanctions and said that Sinn Féin is not against parties or party members being held to account if they are in breach of commitments or pledges of office. But we cannot accept and will not accept the governments stepping outside of the Agreement to bring in sanctions, which are aimed at our party for something we are not responsible for."

In relation to the pending war in Iraq, Ó Snodaigh said:

"We outlined our belief that there is no justification for the war which would have catastrophic consequences, not only in Iraq itself but throughout the Middle East. We believe that the UN inspectors should be allowed to continue their work. Our experience of the Irish Peace Process has shown us in a very real way that dialogue and negotiation is the best way to achieve the peaceful resolution of conflicts. We also discussed the Bill, which Sinn Féin brought before the Dáil, seeking to enshire neutrality into the Constitution and what this would mean for international relations."

Sinn Féin will remain in contact with the Diplomatic Corps over the coming weeks and there will be a further briefing at the party's Ard Fheis at the end of the month.