PREMIERS SCHEDULE TALKS ON NEXT STEP

BRITISH prime minister Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern have scheduled a meeting to discuss the next step in the stalled Northern Ireland peace process.

It has been confirmed that Mr Blair and Mr Ahern will meet in Downing Street on Wednesday July 4 in an attempt to prevent the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Talks are also expected to take place between Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid and the Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowan who will meet the main Northern Ireland political parties.

Over a working dinner Mr Blair and Mr Ahern will examine the state of the Northern Ireland peace process, which has finally been grounded on the rocks of decommissioning by the resignation of First Minister David Trimble.

However, the Northern Ireland pro-agreement parties have just under six weeks to hammer out another deal on the contentious issues of decommissioning, demilitarisation and policing. Failure to achieve a suitable resolution and secure the re-appointment of First and Deputy First Ministers will result in new Assembly elections being called.

Any mention of suspension, which is considered to be the only viable alternative, is being quashed as the British and Irish governments appear to favour a “next step” approach to resolve the current issues rather than suspending the Assembly during the province’s troubled marching season. (SP)