low graphics version | feedback | help
| Front Page World |
| UK |
|
Northern Ireland Scotland Wales |
| UK Politics Business Sci/Tech Health Education Sport Entertainment Talking Point In Depth AudioVideo |
|
 BBC NI's Noreen Erskine reports.Church leaders urge Mandleson to reinstate the assembly  real 28k |
Church leaders want assembly restored
The meeting took place at Hillsborough Castle
Leaders of the four main churches in Northern Ireland have urged the secretary of state to restore the suspended political institutions.
The call came during a meeting between the religious leaders and Peter Mandelson at his official residence, Hillsborough Castle.
They discussed their concerns about the political stalemate in the province following the suspension of the short-lived power-sharing executive because of the impasse over paramilitary arms decommissioning.
Afterwards, Church of Ireland primate Archbishop Robin Eames said there seemed to be a "total cessation" of understanding between the two sides in the political divide.
"We are saying as churchmen what people on the ground are feeling is growing frustration with that situation, a growing feeling of deja-vu and a certain degree of cynicism.
"We believe the time has come when we as churchmen have to say this isn't in the good of our community. "
The call came during a meeting between the religious leaders and Peter Mandelson at his official residence, Hillsborough Castle.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Afterwards, Church of Ireland primate Archbishop Robin Eames said there seemed to be a "total cessation" of understanding between the two sides in the political divide.
"We are saying as churchmen what people on the ground are feeling is growing frustration with that situation, a growing feeling of deja-vu and a certain degree of cynicism.
"We believe the time has come when we as churchmen have to say this isn't in the good of our community. "
You are the elected politicians you have the mandate from the people of Northern Ireland, please do more and work as hard as you can to try to break this deadlock  |
Archbishop Robin Eames
|
He also made a direct appeal to the politicians saying: "You are the elected politicians you have the mandate from the people of Northern Ireland , please do more and work as hard as you can to try to break this deadlock."
They also discussed the crisis in the farming industry.
Meanwhile, the Church and Government Committee of the Presbyterian Church said it regretted that the political process appeared to be deadlocked again.
Co-convenor of the committee Dr John Dunlop, called on unionists and republicans not to let short term interests stall the peace process.
He said doubters and dissidents in both communities needed to be persuaded that the peace process would work.
"It is necessary for the two communities to listen to one another and to make sure that short term needs do not defeat long terms goals," he said.
"We set out what we think the long terms goals ought to be, where we treat one another with grace and generosity and where people of different backgrounds feel at home.
"Where we provide one another with a sense of belonging and no-one need feel like a stranger."
The Presbyterian Church Committee added that it was not surprising that problems had arisen in the process because "one set of needs" had "taken precedence over another".
In a statement it said: "The Unionist goal has been the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons as evidence to the end of war.
"For the republican community the aim has been at least two years of institutions as evidence that power will be shared and politics can be trusted.
"Considerable difficulty arises, when one set of needs takes precedence over another."
The meeting took place against a backdrop of political activity in the province.
US President Bill Clinton's deputy national security adviser Jim Steinberg arrived in Northern Ireland to meet key figures in the peace process.
He was gaining soundings about any chances for progress before the parties travel to Washington to take part in the 17 March Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.
Mr Steinberg was to meet with British and Irish government representatives and with representatives of the political parties to gain their perspectives on the stalled peace process.
They also discussed the crisis in the farming industry.
Meanwhile, the Church and Government Committee of the Presbyterian Church said it regretted that the political process appeared to be deadlocked again.
Co-convenor of the committee Dr John Dunlop, called on unionists and republicans not to let short term interests stall the peace process.
He said doubters and dissidents in both communities needed to be persuaded that the peace process would work.
"It is necessary for the two communities to listen to one another and to make sure that short term needs do not defeat long terms goals," he said.
"We set out what we think the long terms goals ought to be, where we treat one another with grace and generosity and where people of different backgrounds feel at home.
"Where we provide one another with a sense of belonging and no-one need feel like a stranger."
 Peter Mandelson: Speaking to church leaders
|
In a statement it said: "The Unionist goal has been the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons as evidence to the end of war.
"For the republican community the aim has been at least two years of institutions as evidence that power will be shared and politics can be trusted.
"Considerable difficulty arises, when one set of needs takes precedence over another."
The meeting took place against a backdrop of political activity in the province.
US President Bill Clinton's deputy national security adviser Jim Steinberg arrived in Northern Ireland to meet key figures in the peace process.
He was gaining soundings about any chances for progress before the parties travel to Washington to take part in the 17 March Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.
Mr Steinberg was to meet with British and Irish government representatives and with representatives of the political parties to gain their perspectives on the stalled peace process.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
|
| BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
See also:
Internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Links to other Northern Ireland stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~49~RS~)