Eames: Process at critical stage

Lord Eames: "Parties must grasp opportunities"

The Church of Ireland Primate, Lord Eames, has said the peace process is now at a critical phase.

Speaking on BBC Northern Ireland's Sunday Sequence programme, he said the parties must grasp the opportunities now before them and paramilitaries must put their weapons beyond use.

The British and Irish Governments are to put a final package of proposals to the Northern Ireland parties in an attempt to salvage the political process.

The announcement was made after six days of talks at Weston Park on the Staffordshire-Shropshire border ended on Saturday without a breakthrough.

Imperative

Lord Eames said: "There is a moral imperative now on all paramilitary organisations, be they loyalist or republican.

"I believe it is now a moral imperative beyond party politics, to be seen to put everything that can bring destruction and death beyond use."

The time for decision-making by the parties will soon be upon us

Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson

Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson said progress could be made, provided the package presented by the two governments was their final offer.

"It is clear that we cannot constantly repeat a periodic negotiation after negotiation," he said.

"The two prime ministers must make it clear that this package is being presented on a take it or leave it basis.

"The time for decision-making by the parties will soon be upon us," he said.

Suspension

On Saturday, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Premier Bertie Ahern said they would now draw up a "non-negotiable" package to put to all the pro-Agreement parties.

The parties will have a few weeks to garner their response. If no agreement is reached by 12 August, Mr Blair must decide whether to suspend the Northern Ireland Assembly or call fresh elections.

Mr Blair said: "We believe the time for negotiating is through, we are confident we can put through a package for parties to accept or not."

Mr Ahern said he believed a balanced package could be achieved.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he looked forward to receiving the package.

SDLP leader John Hume said there would be considerable disappointment at the failure to find a way at implementing the Agreement.

The current political crisis was brought about by the resignation of David Trimble as the Northern Ireland first minister on 1 July.

He has refused to continue sitting in government with republicans until the IRA begins to decommission its weapons.

Leaving Weston Park on Saturday, Mr Trimble repeated his insistence that decommissioning was the key to getting the peace process back on track.