A chara, - For the past 18 months, Editorials in The Irish Times have encouraged unionists to break the Good Friday Agreement, and in recent weeks Editorials have also encouraged unionists to move outside the terms of the Mitchell Review.
The Irish Times's Editor therefore must bear some responsibility for the current crisis which Sinn Fein with others are struggling to resolve.
The resolution of this crisis lies within the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the relevant section of which states:
"1. Participants recall their agreement in the Procedural Motion adopted on 24 September 1997 `that the resolution of the decommissioning issue is an indispensable part of the process of negotiation', and also recall the provisions of paragraph 25 strand 1 above.
"2. They note the progress made by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning and the Governments in developing schemes which can represent a workable basis for achieving the decommissioning of illegally-held arms in the possession of paramilitary groups.
"3. All participants accordingly reaffirm their commitment to the total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations. They also confirm their intention to continue to work constructively and in good faith with the Independent Commission, and to use any influence they may have, to achieve the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms within two years following endorsement in referendums North and South and in the context of the implementation of the overall settlement."
With the hope that the Editor might read or perhaps re-read the Good Friday Agreement, I have enclosed a copy. - Is mise,
Pat Doherty, Sinn Fein Vice President, Assembly Member for West Tyrone, Melvin Road, Strabane, Co Tyrone.