chamo
1st May 2003, 19:09
The elections of my country have been postponed until autumn because of an unsure outcome. Tony Blair claims he stopped it because the IRA had refused to stop activites, even though Gerry Adams (Sinn Féin) assured him that the IRA would not undermine the peace process.
*Mr. Blair has really done this because his loyal servant David Trimble of the Unlster Unionist Party is unlikely to win the now-cancelled elections. It has been quite evident that Trimble was not expected to get the majority vote and Bertie Ahern has stated that this will cause more porblems yet again in the Northern Ireland peace-process.
There is no doubt that Blair has delayed democracy because the UUP was not going to win. If Timble was certain to win then it would defintely not have been stopped.
Statement from Gerry Adams before Blair's ruling: "I want now - in the interests of moving matters forward - to eliminate any doubt that might exist.
"The IRA leadership makes it clear in its statement that it is determined that its activities will be consistent with its resolve to see the complete and final closure of the conflict.
Tony Blair said he wanted a straight answer from the IRA
"Furthermore, the IRA leadership is determined that there will be no activities which will undermine, in any way, the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement."
Bertie Ahern (Taoiseach): "While we do not agree with or endorse this step [postponement of elections], let me make it clear that the strength and critical importance of the partnership between the two governments will endure."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_irelan...and/2992949.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2992949.stm)
*Mr. Blair has really done this because his loyal servant David Trimble of the Unlster Unionist Party is unlikely to win the now-cancelled elections. It has been quite evident that Trimble was not expected to get the majority vote and Bertie Ahern has stated that this will cause more porblems yet again in the Northern Ireland peace-process.
There is no doubt that Blair has delayed democracy because the UUP was not going to win. If Timble was certain to win then it would defintely not have been stopped.
Statement from Gerry Adams before Blair's ruling: "I want now - in the interests of moving matters forward - to eliminate any doubt that might exist.
"The IRA leadership makes it clear in its statement that it is determined that its activities will be consistent with its resolve to see the complete and final closure of the conflict.
Tony Blair said he wanted a straight answer from the IRA
"Furthermore, the IRA leadership is determined that there will be no activities which will undermine, in any way, the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement."
Bertie Ahern (Taoiseach): "While we do not agree with or endorse this step [postponement of elections], let me make it clear that the strength and critical importance of the partnership between the two governments will endure."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_irelan...and/2992949.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2992949.stm)