Adams warns against negotiating any new deal

Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams today warned the British government against attempts to renegotiate the Belfast Agreement.

Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams today warned the British government against attempts to renegotiate the Belfast Agreement.

As parties in Northern Ireland prepare for round-the-table talks later this week in a bid to restore the power-sharing institutions, Mr Adams said his party would be trying to force the Downing St to fully implement all aspects of the agreement.

"The reality is there will be an effort to renegotiate the Good Friday agreement," he said. "My big concern will be that it is the British Government who are trying to renegotiate."

The Stormont Assembly was suspended last month after an alleged IRA spy ring was uncovered at the heart of government.

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

In a major speech in Belfast last month, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the process had come to a fork in the road and the IRA had to choose which path to take.

Mr Adams said he could not blame unionists for their position in the wake of Mr Blair's comments.

"You can't blame unionists if, given the room for manoeuvre, they seek to manoeuvre.

"The UUP clearly have a veto over the institutions as any majority party would have.

"But they cannot be allowed to have a veto also over what are very basic and modest entitlements for citizens. Equality doesn't threaten anyone, either unionist or nationalist," he added.

PA