26 April 2001 Edition
Adams slams offensive Trimble
Responding to a vitriolic attack in a radio interview by David Trimble in which the unionist leader claimed that Gerry Adams needed to show leadership, the Sinn Féin leader responded that ``such attacks on Sinn Féin and in particular his personal attacks on me are becoming tiresome''.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Adams said. ``Whether it is a tactical approach by Mr Trimble or because he's having a bad day, his remarks are frequently offensive and only serve to undermine confodence in the Agreement.
``People want to see the pro-Agreement parties working together. They do not want to see one party, the UUP, and one party leader, Mr Trimble, constantly sniping at another pro-Agreement party. Sinn Féin's peace strategy, our record of hard work and our firm and resolute leadership in promoting the Good Friday Agreement stands in stark contrast to Mr Trimble's constant undermining tactics. His transparent effort today to offload his responsibility and that of the British government for the current crisis onto republicans will fool no one and is deeply offensive.''
Adams added that the crisis in the peace process was ``probably the miost serious we have faced'' and put blame for that crisis at the feet of David Trimble, ``but ultimately with Mr Blair. The resolution of the crisis rests with both.''
Looking beyond the forthcoming elections to June, Adams said there will be criucial negotiations on key issues like policing, demilitarisation and the equality and human rights agendas ``If these negotiations are to advance the process, then Sinn Féin has to go back to the negotiation table with an increased mandate,'' he said. ``Every vote will count.''
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Adams said. ``Whether it is a tactical approach by Mr Trimble or because he's having a bad day, his remarks are frequently offensive and only serve to undermine confodence in the Agreement.
``People want to see the pro-Agreement parties working together. They do not want to see one party, the UUP, and one party leader, Mr Trimble, constantly sniping at another pro-Agreement party. Sinn Féin's peace strategy, our record of hard work and our firm and resolute leadership in promoting the Good Friday Agreement stands in stark contrast to Mr Trimble's constant undermining tactics. His transparent effort today to offload his responsibility and that of the British government for the current crisis onto republicans will fool no one and is deeply offensive.''
Adams added that the crisis in the peace process was ``probably the miost serious we have faced'' and put blame for that crisis at the feet of David Trimble, ``but ultimately with Mr Blair. The resolution of the crisis rests with both.''
Looking beyond the forthcoming elections to June, Adams said there will be criucial negotiations on key issues like policing, demilitarisation and the equality and human rights agendas ``If these negotiations are to advance the process, then Sinn Féin has to go back to the negotiation table with an increased mandate,'' he said. ``Every vote will count.''