BBC News Online: Events: Northern Ireland: Latest News

Irish PM meets both sides of peace process

Mr Ahern, who has been blamed by loyalists for holding up the process because of his views on cross-border institutions, will also meet the Ulster Democratic Party leader Gary McMichael.

Sinn Fein optimism

Sinn Fein has raised hopes that an agreement could be reached by Thursday's deadline.

Party chairman Mitchel McLaughlin told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme that the negotiating process had picked up pace, and said: "Yes, I think that an agreement is possible."

But he emphasised that the political situation in the province had to change, saying: "The status quo has to be left behind because it has been a failure and it has sustained violence in our community."

Unionist fears

But Mr McLaughlin's enthusiasm was qualified by the UDP, whose leader Gary McMichael was also interviewed by Sir David Frost.

Although he insisted the UDP wants to see a settlement by Thursday's deadline, he emphasised the gap between Unionists and the Irish Government over the cross-border institutions.

"We think it's important at this very delicate stage in the negotiations that the Irish Government understand that there are firm limits and scope to the flexibility of Unionists on the issue of North-South bodies," he told Sir David.

Mr McMichael said he wanted better relations between North and South, but he warned that the Irish Government had to understand that Unionists could only go so far.

"There is no consent for creating any kind of structure which can be perceived as a Trojan horse to facilitate unification," he said.

Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair also remain optimistic that a complete settlement could be reached by the Thursday deadline imposed by the peace talks chairman, former US Senator George Mitchell.

They discussed the peace process when they met at the Asia Europe meeting in London on Saturday. Both believe differences on the crucial issue of cross border institutions can be resolved, and a draft of their ideas produced on Sunday.

This would then feed into the synthesis paper being prepared by Senator Mitchell. His paper is now likely to be unveiled on Monday.

Senator Mitchell had intended to complete the draft by Friday, but at the end of the day he was forced to revise the date.

Relevant Stories

IRA 'set to review ceasefire' (04 Apr 98 | Events)

In this section

N.Ireland agreement 'within reach'
IRA 'set to review ceasefire'
Sunday papers give verdict on peace talks
Loyalist parade banned from nationalist area
Thorough Bloody Sunday Inquiry promised
Bloody Sunday - Jan 30, 1972 (From Special Report)
Bloody Sunday - map of the events (From Special Report)

Events Contents

• Budget 98
• Indonesia
• Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Contents

• Latest News
• History
• Parties
• Paramilitaries
• Links
• Focus
• Facts