The new implementation body for the Belfast Agreement must be used to prevent parties being "caught by surprise or locked into suspicion" as political developments take place, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan said today.
In his statement marking the fourth anniversary of the Agreement, the nationalist SDLP leader, welcomed yesterday's inaugural meeting if the implementation group featuring the British and Irish governments and Northern Ireland pro-agreement parties.
However, he added: "We must meet regularly to deal with the outstanding issues and ensure that we secure the full implementation of the agreement.
"We must use this new facility to avoid parties being caught by surprise or locked into suspicion as developments take place.
"We cannot be complacent. There are still many parts of the agreement that have not been implemented and the SDLP will continue to press for those issues to be resolved."
Among the concerns Mr Durkan raised were:
- The lack of a Bill of Rights.
- The need for progress on the All-Ireland Charter of Fundamental Human Rights, and
- The establishment of a North-South parliamentary Forum as well as a North-South Consultative Forum.
The SDLP leader said his party was also alarmed at the criminal justice reform proposals being put forward by the British government.
He also said there was a need for the performance and the effectiveness of the political institutions in Northern Ireland to improve.
Mr Durkan recalled how the agreement in 1998 "signalled a new beginning" for people in the North. "It gave hope after years of despair. It set down challenges for politicians," he said.
"That remains the case. We must build community through partnership, deliver opportunity through justice and forge a new unity though peace and democracy.
"All parties involved committed themselves to a new beginning, a fresh start where we would work to achieve reconciliation, tolerance, equality and mutual trust.
"We are a social democratic party and that means we believe in creating a fair and equal society for everyone. The Good Friday Agreement gave us the tools to put that belief into practice."
Mr Durkan also urged the community to be conscious of the grief of those who had lost relatives or had been the victims of violence during Northern Ireland's Troubles.
He concluded: "We also have to challenge violent and sectarian prejudice in all their forms if we are to achieve a true peace for all the people."