Hardline unionist Ian Paisley has refused to bend on his demand
for the publication of photographs of IRA arms caches being
destroyed.
for the publication of photographs of IRA arms caches being
destroyed.
>>>>>> Flash: Paisley insists IRA 'repent', allow arms photos
Hardline unionist Ian Paisley has refused to bend on his demand
for the publication of photographs of IRA arms caches being
destroyed.
Following a meeting in Downing Street with British Prime
Minister Tony Blair in the last hour, Paisley remained defiant,
calling for the Provisional IRA to surrender its guns and be
seen to repent publicly.
"If you sin publicly you have to repent publicly," he told
reporters afterwards.
In his typically hardline manner, Paisley accused the IRA to
attempting "genocide of the whole Protestant population north of
the border".
Denying he was seeking the humiliation of the Republican
Movement, he said Protestants who had been bereaved had been
humiliated by the IRA.
"This is not a matter of humiliation. This is a matter of
reality," he said. "If the IRA-Sinn Fein are honest and face up
to their responsibilities they have to take the humility and the
humiliation."
He insisted there could be no compromise on the demand if there
was to be a deal.
"We must have full decommissioning. There must be a record of
it. Photographs must be taken of it. People must see them and
see that it has been done and done rightly," he said.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams is to hold further talks with
Tony Blair tomorrow.
Mr Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are to fly to Belfast
on Wednesday regardless of whether there is a breakthrough or
not.
It is understood that, in the event that no agreement is
reached, they will then release the contents of the potential
deal. The meeting is an attempt to apply pressure by
threatening the exposure of the disputing parties (and
particularly the DUP) to public opinion ahead of a possible
election to the Belfast Assembly.
Mr Paisley said he was not concerned by the Wednesday deadline
set by the two governments, or the expected announcement in
Belfast, insisting that that was a matter for them.
Mr Paisley insisted he had the support of the people, "Roman
Catholics and Protestants" in his demands. He pointed to
newspaper editorials backing his stance, suggesting that he
believes the DUP can retain its dominant position in unionist
politics despite (or because of) its hardline approach.
However, he again claimed he would bite his lip and talk to Sinn
Fein politicians for the first time -- if his demands on arms
were met.
Earlier today, unionists complained that the IRA had not yet
discussed the terms of any new disarmament move with General de
Chastelain, insisting a deal cannot be struck until they know
the exact detail of decommissioning.
Republicans say there is little sign yet that the DUP are
capable of signing up to a deal to share power with Sinn Fein.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said earlier today that if the
British and Irish Governments had acknowledged substantial
progress had been made in the negotiations, they had to follow
through on the logic of this if the DUP was unable to sign up to
a deal.
"Republicans are up for a deal," Mr Adams said.
"We want the institutions back up and running. We want the
Agreement implemented and we want the agenda of change to
continue.
"That is why we have gone the extra mile. But with 48 hours
left, Ian Paisley has to start saying yes.
"The DUP's refusal to embrace power sharing and equality can no
longer be used as an excuse to paralyse the process of change.
Hardline unionist Ian Paisley has refused to bend on his demand
for the publication of photographs of IRA arms caches being
destroyed.
Following a meeting in Downing Street with British Prime
Minister Tony Blair in the last hour, Paisley remained defiant,
calling for the Provisional IRA to surrender its guns and be
seen to repent publicly.
"If you sin publicly you have to repent publicly," he told
reporters afterwards.
In his typically hardline manner, Paisley accused the IRA to
attempting "genocide of the whole Protestant population north of
the border".
Denying he was seeking the humiliation of the Republican
Movement, he said Protestants who had been bereaved had been
humiliated by the IRA.
"This is not a matter of humiliation. This is a matter of
reality," he said. "If the IRA-Sinn Fein are honest and face up
to their responsibilities they have to take the humility and the
humiliation."
He insisted there could be no compromise on the demand if there
was to be a deal.
"We must have full decommissioning. There must be a record of
it. Photographs must be taken of it. People must see them and
see that it has been done and done rightly," he said.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams is to hold further talks with
Tony Blair tomorrow.
Mr Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are to fly to Belfast
on Wednesday regardless of whether there is a breakthrough or
not.
It is understood that, in the event that no agreement is
reached, they will then release the contents of the potential
deal. The meeting is an attempt to apply pressure by
threatening the exposure of the disputing parties (and
particularly the DUP) to public opinion ahead of a possible
election to the Belfast Assembly.
Mr Paisley said he was not concerned by the Wednesday deadline
set by the two governments, or the expected announcement in
Belfast, insisting that that was a matter for them.
Mr Paisley insisted he had the support of the people, "Roman
Catholics and Protestants" in his demands. He pointed to
newspaper editorials backing his stance, suggesting that he
believes the DUP can retain its dominant position in unionist
politics despite (or because of) its hardline approach.
However, he again claimed he would bite his lip and talk to Sinn
Fein politicians for the first time -- if his demands on arms
were met.
Earlier today, unionists complained that the IRA had not yet
discussed the terms of any new disarmament move with General de
Chastelain, insisting a deal cannot be struck until they know
the exact detail of decommissioning.
Republicans say there is little sign yet that the DUP are
capable of signing up to a deal to share power with Sinn Fein.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said earlier today that if the
British and Irish Governments had acknowledged substantial
progress had been made in the negotiations, they had to follow
through on the logic of this if the DUP was unable to sign up to
a deal.
"Republicans are up for a deal," Mr Adams said.
"We want the institutions back up and running. We want the
Agreement implemented and we want the agenda of change to
continue.
"That is why we have gone the extra mile. But with 48 hours
left, Ian Paisley has to start saying yes.
"The DUP's refusal to embrace power sharing and equality can no
longer be used as an excuse to paralyse the process of change.
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