The Irish and British Governments have drawn the blinds on the day to day activities of the Northern Ireland talks process and of the Anglo/Irish Intergovernmental Conference, in advance of the United Kingdom general election, the Easter holiday period and the district council elections in Northern Ireland. Such developments were anticipated and suggest no weakening of commitment to an agreed political settlement within a three stranded process.
The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, spoke confidently during the week of having constructed foundations on which a solution to the Northern Ireland conflict could be built, arising" from his last official meeting with the retiring Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew. But encouraging sentiments appeared to be all that was on offer following that meeting. And Mr Spring and Sir Patrick clearly disagreed on a number of areas.
But notwithstanding this, the two Governments maintained a great deal of common ground. They welcomed the recent successes of the security forces in. countering terrorism on both sides of the border affirmed that a review of policing matters within Northern Ireland would take place within the talks process and supported the development of cross border trade and an all Ireland tourism campaign.
In anticipation of a resumption of the Northern Ireland talks process on June 3rd, the joint chairmen of the Anglo/Irish Conference hoped the parties would achieve the earliest possible transition to substantive three stranded talks. And they allowed for Sinn Fein's involvement by reiterating "their shared view that a talks process which included representatives of all political parties who had established a commitment to exclusively peaceful methods and had shown that they abided by the democratic process provided the best basis for the achievement of a comprehensive political settlement which would win widespread acceptance and underpin lasting peace."
For the past number of years, there has been widespread acceptance within the republican movement that the "armed struggle" will not secure the objective of a united Ireland. Last June, in the course of the Northern Ireland elections, Sinn Fein indicated that support for the party would lead rapidly to an IRA ceasefire and participation in the talks process. It didn't happen. Instead, the IRA resumed its bombing campaign and Sinn Fein demanded entry, as of right, to the talks.
There are indications that the party is positioning itself to play the same tactical pro peace, pro talks card on this occasion, in spite of pressure from the SDLP, the Government, Fianna Fail and President Clinton. It should not be allowed to fool the electorate twice. What is required at this stage is an unequivocal IRA ceasefire - in advance of the general election - and a commitment by republicans to exclusively political, democratic methods. This would transform the situation whereas the old approach will lead to the isolation of republicans and cause further injury to the peace process. The exclusion of Gerry Adams from the White House guest list and the closing of doors against Sinn Fein in Dublin are clear indicators of how the wind is blowing.