Blair insists Belfast Agreement be implemented

The British Prime Minister Mr Blair today told northern Ireland's political parties the Belfast Agreement should be implemented…

The British Prime Minister Mr Blair today told northern Ireland's political parties the Belfast Agreement should be implemented - not renegotiated.

The government has been accused of planning to renegotiate the deal, as northern Ireland parties prepare for round-the-table talks tomorrow in a bid to repair power-sharing institutions.

Mr Blair issued a strong message at Commons question time, saying: "I want to see the Good Friday Agreement implemented and I think the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland want to see it implemented."

Earlier this week, Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams said his party would try to force the Government to fully implement all aspects of the Agreement, after the Assembly was suspended following allegations that an IRA spy ring was in operation.

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He said Sinn Fein remained " fully engaged and committed in this" to the talks process. "I believe that the Belfast Agreement in the end provides the only way forward for the people of Northern Ireland and I think one possible hope for the future has been that this recent political crisis has not actually intensified the security crisis.

"I think most people do actually understand in the end they are going to have to come back and debate these issues and find a way through so that there is completion of all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement for the future of the people in Northern Ireland."

Mr Blair was urged to attend the peace talks this week by SDLP's Mr Eddie McGrady, who called on him to expedite resolution of the political vacuum, but added the discussions should only be a "review of the Good Friday Agreement rather than a renegotiation of it".

Mr Blair said he wanted the agreement implemented adding that Northern Ireland people's "worry at the moment is can they be sure that it will be implemented?

"Will all parties commit themselves to exclusive peaceful and democratic means? Will we have a powersharing executive in Northern Ireland that can stand the test of time?"

Unionists have refused to return to government with republicans until the IRA has disbanded.