Trimble stands firmly behind criticism of the Republic

The Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has defended comments he made at the weekend, in which he described the Republic of Ireland as a “pathetic, sectarian, and mono-cultural state”.

Speaking from Stormont Mr Trimble defended his comments saying it was something he had said many times before and that “there was nothing new” in what he had said.

“I think people are overreacting and taking something out of context,” he said.

“The context is the contrast between a liberal, multi-national state such as the United Kingdom on one hand, and on the other hand a monocultural state which is not as liberal as the United Kingdom.”

Mr Trimble’s comments, which were made during his party’s annual general meeting on Saturday March 9, have sparked a new wave of controversy amongst the power-sharing executive.

The SDLP’s Sean Farren said the remarks were “deeply regrettable and should be withdrawn”. His colleague, Minister Rodgers said: “I regret that he has been so offensive. I have asked him this morning, and I will repeat it again, to withdraw those remarks and to apologise because he has insulted and deeply offended the nationalist community north and south of this island.”

Sinn Féin chairman, Mitchel McLaughlin, has also called on Mr Trimble to apologise.

At the AGM, during which Mr Trimble was unanimously re-elected leader of the UUP, Mr Trimble also called for a poll to be held concurrently with the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in 2003 on whether the North wanted to become part of a united Ireland.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has approved the idea. Speaking from Philadelphia he said: “There can be no doubt that the debate on the nature and form and timing of a united Ireland, which I and other Sinn Fein leaders have called for in recent times, is now well under way.”

Mr Trimble is travelling to the United States on Monday ahead of a meeting with US President, George W Bush, at the White House on Wednesday. Mr Trimble will also face the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, who is also scheduled to attend the meeting.

(AMcE)