Sir, - The lines have been clearly drawn for the negotiations about the future of Northern Ireland after the Irish and British elect ions. Dr Mowlam Labour's Shadow Secretary of State, and the Tories by inference, have confirmed their bipartisan desire to build on the progress achieved (in their view) by the Anglo Irish Agreement, the Downing Street Declaration, and the Framework Document.
Neither the southern Government Coalition nor Fianna Fail would seriously object to Dr Mowlam's emphasis on "winning the consent of the people of Northern Ireland to a new political settlement, even if they are disappointed by her move away from the McNamara policy of unity of Ireland through consensus.
What is refreshing about Mo Mowlam's approach is her obvious enthusiasm to give the talks process every realistic chance of success. Indeed all political leaders in Ireland and the United, Kingdom have been steadfast in their assertions that, whatever human pain and damage is inflicted by people of violence from whichever source, their causes will not be advanced one iota. This is a strong basis on which to build our new future.
Last year, I had the privilege of being in an academic audience in South Africa which was addressed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In response to my question about the relevance of the end in g of the Apartheid era to Northern Ireland, he reflected for a moment, and said simply but significantly that there comes a point when people decide that they have to sit at the same table with people whom they hate.
Leaving aside other facile comparisons between South Africa and Ireland, this is surety the key. The new Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom wilt provide the political "table", but it is the willingness of Northern Irish people to enter the same room and debate issues with others that they hate which will achieve the real breakthrough. Paramilitaries will not bomb or shoot their way to a. forced resolution, but reciprocally, constitutional politicians have a bounden duty to engage their perceived enemies in proper political debate. - Yours, etc.,
Islandtasserty Road,
Coleraine BT52 2PN.