27 November 1997 Edition

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Forming a national consensus

Sinn Féin Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin told a packed public meeting in the ATGWU Hall last Thursday night:

``Partition has failed and all who recognise that fact, unionist and nationalist, are part of a de-facto political consensus. We are pointing the way to an agreement that will in its time become known as the National Consensus.''

He said that the unionist parties, within or outside the Talks, remain determined to wreck the process. ``Both Governments must be persuaded to make it absolutely clear to all of the political parties, and indeed to the many sceptics, that this will not be allowed to happen,'' he said.

``Current British government policy is a clear impediment to establishing a historic agreement. David Trimble has publicly made it clear that their engagement in the Stormont Talks is purely tactical. He has spelt out his understanding that the Downing Street Declaration formula on Consent means that he and his party have a veto on political change. The current phase of bilateral discussions between all of the parties and Senator George Mitchell will demonstrate in the next few weeks whether he is correct in that analysis or he his mistaken.''


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Ireland