Mixed response to Bush visit

There was a mixed response among Northern Ireland's political leaders yesterday following the visit of US President George Bush to the province.

While Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble was among the pro-agreement leaders invited to meet the President during his two-day visit to the province, the DUP's Ian Paisley was not.

This angered the North Antrim MP who claimed the Government vetoed his attempts to meet the US President. He said: "The Secretary of State [Paul Murphy] put out a statement that Ian Paisley would not sit down with Gerry Adams and therefore could not meet President Bush. I never asked to sit with Adams and won’t be sitting down with him. I simply asked that as the elected representative of the largest number of Unionists' in Northern Ireland that I should meet the President and put the majority Unionist viewpoint to him.

"I also pointed out that as the Headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment is in my Westminster constituency I think that he should have had the courtesy because of the engagement of that regiment in Iraq to meet the elected representative for the area. The US authorities bluntly told us that they had no say in the matter and that Mr. Blair had given the order."

However, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble did meet the President and said Mr Bush had given a strong signal to republicans that time was running out.

The Upper Bann MP said: "We would be delighted to see that completion occur and we would be delighted to see the problem of continuing paramilitary activity - and indeed the continuing existence of paramilitary organisations - to be successfully resolved."

Commenting on yesterday's joint statement by George Bush, Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern he added: "I note in their statement, the three leaders have made it clear that the issue of paramilitarism must be ended... completely and irrevocably.

"I very much hope that come Thursday that is what we will hear from those associated with those paramilitary organisations."

Ahead of tomorrow's proposals by the two government's on the way forward for the political process, and following his meeting with George Bush, Alliance Party leader, David Ford said it was clear that there was still a large amount of work to be done in the next couple of days if progress in resolving the serious issues ahead.

However, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said he saw no possibility of further discussions to deal with outstanding issues adding: "I obviously do feel that the current negotiations have to be brought to a conclusion."

However, SDLP leader, Mark Durkan said the people of Northern Ireland would have to judge for themselves whether "the concept of completion on whether there is a full and clear commitment that amounts to delivering all the Agreement promised."

Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern are expected to return to Northern Ireland tomorrow to deliver their plan to unlock the local political stalemate. Coincidently, the date is auspicious as tomorrow marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the very agreement they are trying to save.

(MB)