Adams calls on Governments to take risks for peace

The Irish and British Governments need to take risks to win peace in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams claimed…

The Irish and British Governments need to take risks to win peace in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams claimed tonight.

As unionists continued to demand sanctions against his party over ongoing IRA activity, the West Belfast MP warned his critics in Belfast, London and Dublin that Sinn Féin would not be "bullied".

Addressing delegates at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Dublin, Mr Adams said the Irish and British governments had to push ahead with peace process commitments if they were going to prevent a political vacuum developing.

"They know that a vacuum will encourage those who want to tear down this process," he said.

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"We only have to look at the Middle East and the terrible events there to realise the danger of a stalled peace process.

"For our part republicans recognise that building peace is a collective endeavour.

"We who want to see the maximum change are called upon the greatest risks. So there can be no doubt if the two governments apply themselves to acts of completion of the Good Friday Agreement then others must do likewise."

Republicans have been heavily criticised over the past eight days after the attempted abduction of dissident republican Bobby Tohill from a Belfast city centre bar.

Northern Ireland police chief Hugh Orde blamed the IRA for the incident, sparking demands for Sinn Féin's expulsion from talks to restore devolution in Northern Ireland.

Ulster Unionist leader Mr Trimble has also threatened to lead a walkout by his party out of the review of the Belfast Agreement if there isn't stronger action.

The Democratic Unionists have also called on other political parties to work with them on a system of devolution which would exclude Sinn Féin from wielding power.

Mr Adams said his party was "ready to do business" with both unionist parties but he accused them of "macho posturing".

The Sinn Féin leader said: "Ian Paisley and David Trimble are fighting for control of unionism, both trying to prove how tough they are.

"And while they play their power games, the peace process stalls and withers.

"Sooner or later, we and the unionists must begin a real dialogue, an anti-sectarian dialogue, designed to move us all beyond the impasse of the present into a living, hopeful future in which they, as well as we, tell the British Government to butt out; that no longer will London, which is not trusted or respected by any constituency in Ireland, set the terms for us."

PA