There is no support for violence, says Reid

Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary Dr Reid said this evening that he did not think there was any support for violence, despite…

Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary Dr Reid said this evening that he did not think there was any support for violence, despite troubles in the peace process.

Mr Bertie Ahern and Mr Tony Blair

"There are always people out there in some sections of the loyalists and some of the republican dissidents whose purpose is to use violence to wreck this process. These people have nothing positive to offer, they have no support, they have no strategy," he said.

Asked if violence at the Drumcree parade this Sunday could derail the Belfast Agreement Dr Reid said: "I don't believe that they can do it if the commitment that's been shown so far, and the willingness to continue this process that's still expressed, is translated into action."

Dr Reid met the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, for talks in Dublin today in advance of a major push Monday by British Prime Minister Mr Blair and Taoiseach Mr Ahern to try to get the Belfast Agreement back on track.

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Mr Cowen and Dr Reid will talk with pro-Agreement parties at Hillsborough tomorrow afternoon.

Earlier today it was confirmed that talks between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister on the peace process are to be held on Monday.

Mr Ahern and Mr Blair will begin talks in Downing Street at 10 a.m. They will then move to Weston Park, near Birmingham, on Monday afternoon for talks with pro-Agreement parties from the North.

These are expected to last for most of next week.

The Taoiseach's planned departure on an official visit to South America on Monday July 16th, and Mr Blair's G8 commitment on July 20th, have added a sense of urgency to finding agreement on the key issues of decommissioning, demilitarisation, policing and the stability of the institutions set up under the Belfast Agreement.

The announcement of the Birmingham meeting comes after the two-hour meeting between the two leaders in Downing Street last night.