Ahern calls for renewed effort

THE Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, has said that yesterday's summit did little or nothing to move the peace process forward…

THE Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, has said that yesterday's summit did little or nothing to move the peace process forward.

"Comments from the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister were in fact a restatement of positions already taken up.... it is disappointing that the two governments could not propose a resolution of the major issues outstanding", he added.

The responsibility of both governments, particularly at yesterday's summit, was to use all their, powers to offer a "new dimension of opportunity to all the parties involved in the peace process".

They should now renew their efforts to create conditions to encourage a renewal of the IRA ceasefire unequivocally and irrevocably, "and a structure which will bring Sinn Fein into inclusive all party talks, on foot of such a cease fire, by a definite date".

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This was a time for great patience and continued determination to persuade the IRA that its decision of autumn 1994 was correct and one to which it must return "without qualification" to allow Sinn Fein into round table talks.

"The republican movement, must do all in its power to ensure that happens," Mr Ahern added.