IN AN eloquent plea to Northern Ireland’s political leaders yesterday US secretary of state Hillary Clinton told them republican dissidents will take any opportunity to destabilise the power-sharing agreement. “Now they are watching this Assembly for signs of uncertainty or internal disagreement,” she warned. “They want to derail your confidence. And though they are small in number, their thuggish tactics and destructive ambitions threaten the security of every family in Northern Ireland. Moving ahead together with the process will leave them stranded on the wrong side of history.”
Her warning deserves to be taken very seriously indeed. Mrs Clinton’s decision to deliver it in person is a highly significant and positive indication of the Obama administration’s commitment to the peace process and its continuing success. Her desire to use it as a potential model for addressing other conflicts around the world is not only a tribute to the progress made so far but indicates a willingness to make it into an international resource that Ireland badly needs in these difficult times. This can benefit all the inhabitants of this island. There is a real danger that complacency about what has already been achieved and tactical efforts to postpone decisions on policing and justice until the next UK election will undermine that international goodwill.
Mrs Clinton is quite right to say that devolving these two key functions is “an absolutely essential milestone” in the peace process. Agreement on it has been reached in principle but implementation has been held up because key members of the Democratic Unionist Party do not trust Sinn Féin enough to see it through. It is widely believed First Minister Peter Robinson has made expensive demands on funding the transfer from London to gain time; but Gordon Brown’s visit to Belfast last week has eased that problem and increased the pressure for an early decision.
Earlier this year Mr Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness stood firmly together against provocative violence by the dissidents clearly designed to derail their confidence. Mr Robinson would serve his own people best by showing the courage to move on. Mrs Clinton was sensitive to his concerns yesterday when she said she did not want to meddle in the decision. But the plain message she conveyed is that it would be in Northern Ireland’s best interests to heed the views of all its international partners that devolving justice and policing would enhance political stability and reinforce public safety.