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02/08/2001
Bush supports peace proposals blueprint
United States President George Bush has thrown his support behind the British and Irish package of proposals aimed at breaking the political deadlock.
The president said he had telephoned the British and Irish prime ministers to state his strong belief that progress on decommissioning was tantamount to any peace package.
The ten-page document says decommissioning is an "indispensable" part of the Agreement and must be resolved in a manner acceptable to the decommissioning body.
However, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has warned that despite the governments' blueprint he will withdraw his party from the Stormont Government if the IRA does not begin destroying weapons.
On 1 July Mr Trimble resigned as first minister because the IRA had not begun to disarm.
The Ulster Unionist ruling council will meet to consider the party's response on Monday evening, whilst Sinn Féin’s party ruling executive will meet on Friday. The Democratic Unionist Party have flatly rejected the blueprint whilst the SDLP have said the package represents a “window of opportunity”.
Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said the proposals "summarise the best conclusions" from discussions in the last six months.
The parties have four days to accept or reject the package.
If there has been no deal by 12 August, the British Government will have to either suspend the assembly - even if only for a short period to give more room for manoeuvre - or call an assembly election. (AMcE)
The president said he had telephoned the British and Irish prime ministers to state his strong belief that progress on decommissioning was tantamount to any peace package.
The ten-page document says decommissioning is an "indispensable" part of the Agreement and must be resolved in a manner acceptable to the decommissioning body.
However, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has warned that despite the governments' blueprint he will withdraw his party from the Stormont Government if the IRA does not begin destroying weapons.
On 1 July Mr Trimble resigned as first minister because the IRA had not begun to disarm.
The Ulster Unionist ruling council will meet to consider the party's response on Monday evening, whilst Sinn Féin’s party ruling executive will meet on Friday. The Democratic Unionist Party have flatly rejected the blueprint whilst the SDLP have said the package represents a “window of opportunity”.
Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said the proposals "summarise the best conclusions" from discussions in the last six months.
The parties have four days to accept or reject the package.
If there has been no deal by 12 August, the British Government will have to either suspend the assembly - even if only for a short period to give more room for manoeuvre - or call an assembly election. (AMcE)
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Doug Beattie Resigns As UUP Leader
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