No fudging after Haass – parties and governments should ‘grasp opportunity’, says Adams

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Draft agreement is a compromise which seeks to find common ground between the five participating parties. This was never going to be easy but Sinn Féin believes that – with political will – the proposed mechanisms can work’

THE OPPORTUNITY to resolve the outstanding issues from the Haass Talks should be grasped by all the parties involved and the British and Irish governments, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said on Thursday. There should be 'no fudging', he said.

“Sinn Féin have stretched ourselves in these negotiations and we are up for this challenge,” the republican leader said. “The other parties should not fudge their responses. They should be clear.”

The Sinn Féin leader said that the Ard Chomhairle of the party will meet on 11 January to discuss the Haass proposals and review the outcome of the talks process.

The talks between the five parties – Sinn Féin, Democratic Unionist Party, Ulster Unionist Party, Alliance and the SDLP – ended on New Year’s Eve without agreement by the DUP and UUP to the final document drafted by former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass and international affairs expert Professor Meghan O’Sullivan*.

Dr Haas said a final agreement was “not there” but there had been “significant progress”.

Dr Haass said all five parties had “given it their best” and were prepared to continue with the process.

At a 5am press conference in the Stormont Hotel on New Year’s Eve, Dr Haass told reporters:

“It would have been nice to have come out here tonight and say we have got all five parties completely signed on to the text.

“We are not there but I believe there is a real prospect that we will get several of the parties to sign on the text in full.

“Several of the other parties will endorse significant parts of it and together this will provide a basis for a serious ongoing political process.”

Speaking today, Gerry Adams, the former MP for West Belfast and now TD for Louth, said:

“Failure to reach agreement on these crucial issues will constantly bedevil the political process and make it difficult to reach agreements on social and economic issues that are essential for improving the quality of life for everyone.”

In his full statement, the Sinn Féin leader said:

“The issues of parades, flags and emblems and the legacy of the past are not going away.

“Significant progress was made during the Haass Talks. 

“There is an onus on the Irish and British governments and all of the parties to maintain the momentum that was created and to build on this progress. 

“The draft agreement is a detailed proposal. It is a compromise which seeks to find common ground between the five participating parties. This was never going to be easy but Sinn Féin believes that – with political will – the proposed mechanisms can work.

“Sinn Féin would like to have seen some aspects of the proposed agreement strengthened and improved further. More work is required on parity of esteem, equality and respect for all cultures and identities. However, agreement on everything was not possible.

“Negotiation is about give and take: it’s about making concessions and accepting that there can be no outright winners.

“The Haass proposals are a challenge to Sinn Féin and to all of the other parties.

“Sinn Féin have stretched ourselves in these negotiations and we are up for this challenge. The other parties should not fudge their response. They should be clear.

“Failure to reach agreement on these crucial issues will constantly bedevil the political process and make it difficult to reach agreements on social and economic issues that are essential for improving the quality of life for everyone.

“I would urge all citizens interested in building the peace to take the time to read the Haass proposals.

“The Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle will be meeting on January 11th.

“Sinn Féin’s negotiating team believes that the Haass proposals provide the basis for an agreement between all of the parties and we will be recommending it to Ard Chomhairle.”

The 40-page final document by Richard Haass can be read here.

❑  Dr Haass and Professor Meghan O’Sullivan had been invited to Ireland in July by the first and deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.

Dr Haass was Director of Policy Planning for the United States Department of State and a close advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Professor O’Sullivan is a former deputy national security adviser on Iraq and Afghanistan. She is Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs.