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04/07/2001
AHERN AND BLAIR IN CRISIS TALKS
THE Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to meet with the British Prime Minister in Downing Street on Wednesday night to set an agenda for the next week of talks designed to save the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Ahern will join Mr Blair for a working dinner to discuss plans for crucial talks following the resignation of Mr David Trimble as First Minister over the weekend.
Speaking to the Daíl Mr Ahern issues a very bleak assessment of the current deadlock in Northern Ireland. He said on Wednesday afternoon that talks held last week in Hillsborough were frank and forceful, and he couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel: “I couldn’t say if we got clearance on decommissioning today that we could sort on the issue of policing. Everybody is sitting on their seat of position of negotiation and if they continue to sit on it and not move how can we make any progress?”
The Northern Secretary Dr John Reid and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen are due to chair talks with the provinces political parties in Belfast on Thursday or Friday.
The parties have until August 11 to hammer out a deal that will ensure the continuation of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly.
If they fail to reach agreement by this stage, which is some six weeks away, the executive could be suspended or fresh elections called.
(AMcE)
Mr Ahern will join Mr Blair for a working dinner to discuss plans for crucial talks following the resignation of Mr David Trimble as First Minister over the weekend.
Speaking to the Daíl Mr Ahern issues a very bleak assessment of the current deadlock in Northern Ireland. He said on Wednesday afternoon that talks held last week in Hillsborough were frank and forceful, and he couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel: “I couldn’t say if we got clearance on decommissioning today that we could sort on the issue of policing. Everybody is sitting on their seat of position of negotiation and if they continue to sit on it and not move how can we make any progress?”
The Northern Secretary Dr John Reid and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen are due to chair talks with the provinces political parties in Belfast on Thursday or Friday.
The parties have until August 11 to hammer out a deal that will ensure the continuation of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly.
If they fail to reach agreement by this stage, which is some six weeks away, the executive could be suspended or fresh elections called.
(AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
