The British and Irish governments' joint declaration on the peace process is the product of "flawed" talks that focused too heavily on republican demands, the Alliance Party claimed today.
The cross-community party urged London and Dublin to implement the proposals carefully as rival wings of the Ulster Unionist Party prepared for a bitter debate at a meeting of their ruling council tonight on the declaration.
Alliance leader Mr David Ford said: "The joint declaration is at best a 'shared understanding' between the two governments as to what should happen.
"It is a product of a flawed process of negotiation that overly focused on addressing demands of republicans in order to create the context for movement. For example, language rights are overemphasised, while it took a considerable effort on the part of Alliance to get any meaningful references to community relations.
"The governments do seem determined to plough ahead in implementing the joint declaration. In doing so, the governments need to be very careful not to be seen to be giving any concessions to any party," he said.
Mr Ford said although London and Dublin had moved away from the ideas of a general amnesty for on-the-run paramilitaries, his party was concerned that under the new scheme, which would free fugitives on licence, applicants would not have to appear in court.
"This would be a final insult to their victims," the former South Antrim Assembly member said. "We will use any influence we have to block this aspect of the proposals".
PA