A chara, - I would appreciate space to reply to your Editorial of March 8th. Firstly, I would like to welcome the fact that David Trimble asked for Sinn Fein to take part in talks which my party has been calling for since our last meeting took place.
Secondly, your Editorial states that the blame for the current difficulties lies with the IRA for not handing in its weapons, while in the same paragraph you say that decommissioning is not a pre-condition and that the agreement does not specify a start date for decommissioning.
You also state that it is Mr Trimble's position that an indication of intent to disarm would be enough to get Sinn Fein onto the Executive. In fact, Mr Trimble and the Ulster Unionists have stated time and again that they will not budge on the issue of IRA weapons being handed over before Sinn Fein can take their place on the Executive.
You state that the IRA has not moved a millimetre while the unionists have shown a willingness to seek compromise. You seem to have lost your grasp on the fact that it was the IRA's courageous decision to call its cessation which allowed the whole process to take place.
It seems that the only "stumbling block" some people are intent on recognising is the decommissioning issue. I would like to remind you that the agreement signed on Good Friday is the only agreement for which Sinn Fein has the mandate to represent its electorate. No-one, David Trimble included, has the right to re-write the agreement. - Is mise, Pat Doherty, Assembly Member for West Tyrone,
Assembly Building, Stormont, Belfast 4.