BELFAST'S two morning newspapers, the unionist News Letter and the nationalist Irish News this morning publish an unprecedented joint editorial on the contentious parades issue. It calls on Orangemen and residents on Portadown's Catholic Garvaghy Road to agree a two-year deal on parades in an attempt to keep violence off the streets this summer.
With the planned Drumcree Orange Order march in Portadown less than a month away, the editorial urges the two sides to agree an interim two-year arrangement, copper-fastened by the British government, which would allow one parade down the Garvaghy Road and the other to be rerouted. Residents would be free to make a dignified and lawful protest about the march and the Orange Order would be free to make a similar protest over the rioting, the joint editorial said.
By the third year, enough trust would have been established for a new and lasting accord which recognised each others rights and the atmosphere in which talks could take place would be transformed.
The editorial adds: "This would require no loss of face and no loss of principle by either side. Both sides retain their dignity and nobody loses. It is not a settlement, but it would create the breathing space both sides need, leaving the way clear for confidence-building and discussions, leading to a lasting settlement."
. The Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition has asked the Orange Order to re-route the homeward stretch of the Drumcree march away from their area, writes Carmel Robinson in Portadown. The request was made in a letter to the Co Armagh Orange Lodge's headquarters where its biannual meeting took place yesterday.
However, the letter was rejected by the Orange Order's Deputy Grand Master, Mr David Brewster.
In another move to ease tension as the marching season nears, a strategy drawn up yesterday at a meeting of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland will be sent to local lodges this weekend. Details of the strategy will not be made public until next Tuesday, according to the Grand Orange Lodge secretary, Mr John McCrea.
The letter, signed by its secretary, Father Eamon Stack recognised the Orange Order's right to march to Drumcree to attend its church. The order was asked if it could "reciprocate" by voluntarily re-routing the homeward route away from Garvaghy Road for "an agreed period of time".
Father Stack said: "Nationalists would recognise and accept such a gesture as not foreseeing a future where Orange parades . . . would never be welcome in nationalist areas of Portadown." The letter said it was an explanation of the coalition's stance on the march.
Mr David Brewster, Deputy Grand Master of the Orange Order, said the residents Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition could send as many letters as they liked and he did not see it as a conciliatory gesture.