30 August 2001 Edition
Sinn Féin meet British government in bid to kick start talks
Sinn Féin North Belfast Assembly member Gerry Kelly, Fermanagh South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew MLA and Dublin councillor Séan Crowe met British Minister Des Browne in Castle Buildings in a bid to kick start a process aimed at resolving the four outstanding issues blocking the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
Speaking to An Phoblacht, Michelle Gildernew said the meeting hopefully signalled the start of an intensive period of dialogue aimed at resolving the four issues that are holding up progress on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement - demilitarisation, policing, political stability and the issue of arms.
``The British government,'' said Gildernew, ``told the world that they were suspending the political institutions in order to create a six-week space for further progress on the four key areas blocking the implementation of the Agreement.
``Since the suspension of the institutions on 11 August, the British government have sat on their hands. They have organised no meetings, held no discussions and engaged in no private dialogue,'' added the Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP.
``We requested this meeting to discuss in detail those areas where the British government's policing implementation plan fails to bridge the gap to the Patten recommendations as the basic requirement for the establishment of a new policing service.''
Speaking to An Phoblacht, Michelle Gildernew said the meeting hopefully signalled the start of an intensive period of dialogue aimed at resolving the four issues that are holding up progress on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement - demilitarisation, policing, political stability and the issue of arms.
``The British government,'' said Gildernew, ``told the world that they were suspending the political institutions in order to create a six-week space for further progress on the four key areas blocking the implementation of the Agreement.
``Since the suspension of the institutions on 11 August, the British government have sat on their hands. They have organised no meetings, held no discussions and engaged in no private dialogue,'' added the Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP.
``We requested this meeting to discuss in detail those areas where the British government's policing implementation plan fails to bridge the gap to the Patten recommendations as the basic requirement for the establishment of a new policing service.''