There will be no renegotiation of the Belfast Agreement, the SDLP warned today as the Ulster Unionist Party prepare for a meeting tomorrow that could lead to a radically changed political situation in the North.
Speaking on the eve of a conference organised by her party on the new political and social climate in the wake of the Agreement, SDLP deputy leader Mrs Brid Rodgers said her colleagues would not be negotiating any alternative.
The North's Agriculture Minister, who earlier this week announced she will not contest the next Assembly election, said: "I want to make it absolutely clear the SDLP will not be renegotiating the Good Friday Agreement".
And in a reference to hardline Ulster Unionist MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, who has forced tomorrow's crucial meeting of his party's ruling council on the future of power sharing, she said: "Those who walked away from the negotiations opted out of the process.
"The people gave their verdict at the referendum on the Agreement.
"Full implementation of the Agreement was never going to be easy and has proven difficult but that is no excuse for any of the parties to walk away."
Mrs Rodgers was speaking ahead of the SDLP's `Unity in Diversity' conference in the Odyssey in Belfast which will involve business leaders, other politicians, academics, journalists, clergy, trades unionists and representatives from the voluntary sector.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Brian Cowen and Fine Gael leader Mr Enda are due to attend. SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan is also due to deliver a keynote speech.
Mrs Rodgers leader said the conference would hear how unionists and nationalists, people north and south of the Irish border could "exploit and benefit from the opportunities created by the Good Friday Agreement.
"The Agreement was a historic compromise between nationalism and unionism.
"It presented all the people of Ireland, north and south, with an unprecedented opportunity to change the face of Ireland and leave behind our dreadful past.
"Those unionists who are proposing renegotiation and attempting to convince others that this is a realistic alternative need to come into the real world.
"The SDLP will not be renegotiating this agreement. What the SDLP will continued to do is ensure that the Agreement is implemented in all its aspects.
"Let me repeat and repeat very clearly - the Agreement threatens nobody, benefits everyone, is the only way forward and is not for renegotiation."
PA