Plea for parades dialogue by commission chairman

DIALOGUE and local accommodation must form the blueprint for breaking the deadlock over contentious marches, the chairman of the Parades Commission, Mr Alistair Graham, has stated.

As attempts continue on a number of fronts to try to head off another crisis over Drumcree, Mr Graham insisted that the key to a solution was nationalist residents' groups and the loyal orders entering into local arrangements. He also tried to reassure the loyal orders that they need not compromise their principles in reaching a "consensus" with nationalists.

Mr Graham said that the commission, which was established as a result of the North Report on parades, would. continue its attempts to persuade all disputing parties - whether in Drumcree, Dunloy, Bellaghy or Derry - of the necessity for dialogue and accommodation.

"It is only by dialogue and local accommodation that we will find solutions to the intractable problems of parades in Northern Ireland," Mr Graham stated in a discussion paper entitled "Finding a Better Way".

His comments follow a meeting on Wednesday night in Westminster between the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, and his deputy, Mr John Taylor. Drumcree and parades issues were high on the agenda, although Mr Trimble would not comment yesterday on the outcome of the meeting.

Meanwhile, senior members of the Orange Order met Labour and Conservative politicians in Westminster to discuss the parades issue. In the company of Mr Trimble, they also had a private meeting with the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume. Neither side would say if any progress was made.

While the Orange Order, the Royal Black Preceptory and the Apprentice Boys remain firmly opposed to talking to groups containing members who have had a republican paramilitary background, Mr Graham insisted yesterday that accommodation and dialogue differed from consent and agreement.

"Of course, we understand the sensitivities around refusals to talk to or meet certain people ... That doesn't prevent us from working to find ways through and around the problem."

"Dialogue, involving everyone in one way or another, is aimed at reaching and finding consensus. Consensus is not the same as consent, which again implies a veto. Consensus must be reached by all sides following a process of dialogue, negotiation, mediation, or whatever route has been found to be successful.

"Consensus is about finding accommodation, recognising other points of view. It is not about compromising principles except in the context of the responsibility to take account of the effect of exercising rights on other parts of the community. Consensus is about tolerance, understanding and flexibility," Mr Graham said.

The Parades Commission last night travelled to Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, to hold separate discussions with nationalist residents and Orange Order members.