Unionists warn about `concessions'

Ulster Unionists have warned the two governments against further concessions to republicans if the package of proposals aimed…

Ulster Unionists have warned the two governments against further concessions to republicans if the package of proposals aimed at salvaging the peace process is to be acceptable to them.

The dissident UUP MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, who issued a joint call with MP Mr David Burnside last week for a UUP withdrawal from the process, yesterday accused both governments of "courting" the IRA.

"We were told by the [British] Prime Minister at Weston Park that negotiations were now over. We haven't been offered anything further," he told Sky News.

"But we do know for certain that the IRA have been offered further inducements, and there will be embellishments to this package that are a direct result of the negotiations that have been going on behind the scenes with both Tony Blair's government and with the Irish Government."

READ MORE

Mr Donaldson's comments came after the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, said publication of the proposals could be further delayed in the absence of an IRA move on decommissioning. The package is expected to be presented to the pro-agreement parties later this week, possibly on Wednesday.

On Saturday the acting First Minister, Sir Reg Empey, criticised the Taoiseach for not putting more pressure on Sinn Fein on the disarmament issue and predicted that Fianna Fail could pay a heavy electoral price for appearing to be mere followers of the republican movement.

"Bertie Ahern has taken Sinn Fein in and now realises there's a cuckoo in the nest. There's a big push being made by Sinn Fein in many constituencies, and a major assault is going to be launched on Fianna Fail in particular," he added.

Sir Reg said he was prepared to "wait and see" what the package contained but insisted IRA decommissioning had to be one of its main components for it to be acceptable to unionists.

"If there is not decommissioning I do not believe there is the remotest possibility of a First and Deputy First Minister being elected on August 12th," he told the BBC's Inside Politics programme.

Meanwhile, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has called on the two governments to publish their proposals without further delay. Addressing a hunger-strike commemoration rally in west Belfast yesterday, he said the real issue was not one of guns but of justice, equality and the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement.