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Date Posted: 22:00:10 05/18/05 Wed GMT
Author: Sage
Subject: Michael Kerry in The Washington Times

May 19, 2005--The Washington Times

http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20050518-093638-2493r.htm

Toward peace in Northern Ireland

Anthony Healy states, "Britain's new Northern Ireland secretary insisted at the end of a weeklong tour of the territory yesterday that, despite recent setbacks, the parties must keep working toward reconciliation," ("Envoy takes on Northern Ireland," World, Monday). And I certainly agree with that assertion. However, the last line in the article says, "Unionist hard-liners have said that there will be no chance of a power-sharing executive 'for a generation.' "

This sort of protracted obstructionist agenda, coupled with Ian Paisley's endless, sectarian rants, underscores exactly where Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain's focus should be directed while he sets about seeing the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) fully implemented. This was promised by both Prime Minister Tony Blair and An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

The GFA requires change. And if that change is to become reality, then the obstructionists must be faced down and made to come to terms with the overwhelming will of the people throughout the island of Ireland, who want a fully implemented GFA, and the promise it holds for finding ways for Unionists and Loyalists, Nationalists and Republicans to find common ground.

This must be achieved in a realistic way; with firm resolve from both governments working in tandem.

The bad old days of exclusion and marginalization that Mr. Paisley helped to heap upon the Nationalist and Republican communities throughout the long years of the Troubles should not be tolerated in 2005; as people of goodwill seek to find a lasting peace, true justice, and the social and economic equality promised within the GFA.

Mr. Paisley should be deprived of having his "No" agenda taken seriously any longer. Change is what is required. Stalling is a tactic that will only keep people bogged down in the mire of the failed status quo.

Mr. Paisley's sectarian game of blame and shame forces people outside the terms of the agreement and away from the desired healing effects of true reconciliation. It is dangerous retrovision. The governments should force his Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to move on.

It must be made clear to the DUP obstructionists that any agenda outside of the Good Friday Agreement will not be allowed to stall the overdue changes that are required any longer.

This is vital to the success of a lasting peace and reconciliation in the north of Ireland.

MICHAEL KERRY

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