Robinson Stalls On Maze Development

First Minister Peter Robinson has changed his party's position on the new peace and conflict resolution centre to be built at the Maze prison site.

Previously, Mr Robinson had denied claims by unionists that the development would turn into a "shrine for terrorism", but now he says it would be wrong to proceed with the £330m project until a consensus has been reached about how it will operate.

"Since this present deceitful Maze campaign began we have consistently and frequently stressed that we will not permit any shrine to be erected at the Maze," he said.

" You already know I would not have chosen the Maze site as the location for the Peace Centre but that decision was taken before I became First Minister. In truth, even now, if it could be removed from the Maze plan and built elsewhere without scuttling the economic development of the rest of the site I would do it.

"However, the UUP-endorsed decision tied it into this site and that decision can only be rescinded if nationalists and republicans agreed to do so. We all know they will not."

Mr Robinson criticised Sinn Féin for a lack of commitment to a shared vision for the site.

"I am committed to the building of a Peace Centre but only on the basis that it is genuinely non-partisan shared space and it has widespread support throughout the community," he said.

"Northern Ireland would be a laughing stock across the world if its Peace Centre was the cause and source of division.

"And there the problem arises! Given the behaviour of Sinn Féin, unionists just do not believe Sinn Féin is committed to creating and maintaining this kind of genuinely neutral shared space at the Maze. But the project will only work if there is endorsement from both sections of our community. Frankly, it is not for me to change this perception - I share it - Sinn Féin must convince unionists that they are serious and sincere."

In his letter, the DUP leader also ruled out any public use of the retained buildings, which include the one existing H block and the hospital where Bobby Sands and other republican hunger strikers died.

Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt has described the decision as a 'U-turn'.

"I welcome the fact Peter Robinson has finally seen sense," he said.

"This is a victory for innocent victims, who made their voices heard and it was an honour for the Ulster Unionist Party to represent their views.

"As to Mr Robinson's ridiculous attempts to blame the Ulster Unionists, we will say nothing unless and until he acknowledges the role played at that time by his DUP colleague Edwin Poots, both as a member of the Maze Panel and as a Lisburn Councillor. Mr Robinson also fails to explain why he did not address what he clearly feels was a mess during the St Andrews negotiations."

But Sinn Féin's Raymond McCartney said: "This is an hysterical reaction by Peter Robinson to the unionist paranoia whipped up by rejectionists like Willie Frazer and Jim Allister. They are leading the DUP on this issue. It is also cowardly, Peter Robinson is issuing this statement here but has long since departed on his holidays.

"He pens a letter telling how he is standing up to the TUV and UUP, yet what he is actually doing is following the agenda they have set for him. It is further evidence of weak political leadership.

"People will find it strange that the DUP are now turning their back on such a project and does raise very serious questions about the commitment of elements of the DUP to conflict resolution and peace building. That is a question which the DUP now need to address.

"It is up to the DUP to explain to people why at a time of significant economic challenges they are prepared to squander this opportunity for investment and job creation on the pretext that anti peace unionism has mobilised against it."

(IT/CD)