Six principles are a recipe for nurturing trust, says De Rossa

THE report was described by the Minister for Social Welfare as a compromise on the side of democracy and non violence.

THE report was described by the Minister for Social Welfare as a compromise on the side of democracy and non violence.

Mr De Rossa said "It is clear that the two governments cannot browbeat parties in Northern Ireland into talks. Intimidation is a not a mechanism which a democracy can wield. What the two governments can do is act to allay that visceral fear which is still rampant among the parties in Northern Ireland.

"We are in a better position to made all parties to take that outrageous step into all party talks if our own talk and behaviour reflects an even handed approach and a readiness to consider all sides of the argument. Education for mutual understanding should begin at home.

"The six principles outlined by the International Body will, if supported and adhered to by all relevant parties, do much to establish the trust necessary for all party talks.

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"Despite the cease fires, trust has not been re established between the two major communities. The confrontations of last summer, with their clear sectarian overtones, and the continued punishment beatings, have scarred the peace enjoyed since the autumn of 1994...

"However, we accept that the cease fires are for real that while political progress has been incremental and uneven, there is no desire on the part of any of those previously engaged in violence to reengage in armed struggle. It may well be the case that many expectations at the time of the cease fires have not been met.

"But perhaps one of the first lessons of politics is that expectations and reality can be worlds apart.

"What is politically desirable, and what is politically feasible, are not always the same. That does not require participants to abandon their long term goals or aspirations. Neither is there any suggestion of victory or surrender.

"In this context, there has to be an end in our time, among this generation to the historic notion that a historical political wrong can be put right by self sacrificing armed struggle.

"Decommissioning the mind set is as critically important as the physical decommissioning of arms and must be directed towards the self as well as urged on others. In a democratic society, the force of argument can be the only acceptable force deployed.

"Decommissioning should be a declaration of confidence in the political process a determination to use peaceful and democratic methods exclusively to deliver political objectives and a willingness to accept the outcomes of political strategies as expressed at the ballot box by the people.

"Acceptance of the sovereign will of the people is the corner stone of all democratic politics. In this context, I particularly welcome the fifth principle of the six set out by Senator Mitchell as a clear recognition of the primacy of the democratically expressed will of the people.

"No matter how much it is publicly desired and needed, it is clear that the physical fact of decommissioning, even as a gesture, is not going to happen immediately. The peace process, if its means anything, has to mean the primacy of politics. The currency of politics is accommodation. Accommodation is not weakness but confidence.

"I would urge the paramilitaries to accept that decommissioning, in the structured, balanced and flexible way outlined by the International Body, offered an honourable way forward from the current impasse ...

"Decommissioning is best viewed as an entirely positive process.

"Decommissioning in parallel to political development should be a declaration of confidence in the political process, reflecting a determination to use the craft of politics to deliver political objectives and a willingness to accept the outcome of political strategies as expressed at the ballot box by the people.

"Acknowledging such acceptance of the will of the people is not surrender but confidence in the good sense of ordinary citizens.

"The International Body has provided us with a report which offers a constructive way forward. It acknowledges frankly the huge problem of perceptions on both sides.

"The most useful approach for all of us engaged in the peace process is to study the report and reflect in particular on its principles of democracy and non violence and on the modalities of decommissioning it proposes.

"I believe the report offers a positive way forward.