BLAIR TALKING NONSENSE SAYS McGUINNESS

[mrgorth]

BLAIR TALKING NONSENSE SAYS McGUINNESS
02/02/05 13:49 EST

Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, has
accused the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, of
"talking nonsense" when he said yesterday IRA activity was
the only obstacle to political progress in Northern Ireland.


Speaking after a Sinn Féin delegation met Northern
Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, in Hillsborough Castle, Co Down,
Mr McGuinness said: "Paul Murphy was left with no illusions
about the huge anger within the nationalist and republican
community at the current mishandling of the situation by the
two governments."


"Mr Blair's comments yesterday that the only obstacle to a
comprehensive agreement was the IRA were silly because this
is patently not the case. Unionism has not demonstrated
that it will share power with nationalists and republicans,"
said Mr McGuinness.


Mr Blair said after meeting the Taoiseach in London
yesterday: "The obstacle now to a lasting and durable
settlement in Northern Ireland is the continuing
paramilitary activity and criminal activity of the IRA".


"It has got to stop. It has got to stop in its entirety.
There cannot be any compromise with that. If it is given up
the process can move forward on an inclusive basis," he said.


Both Mr Blair and Mr Ahern confirmed they had been briefed
by Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde and Garda
commissioner Noel Conroy, on their belief that the IRA
carried out the GBP£26.5million Northern Bank robbery in
Belfast in December.


The Sinn Féin's delegation meeting Mr Murphy today included
West Tyrone MP Mr Pat Doherty, South Down MLA Ms Catriona
Ruane and Meath by-election candidate Mr Joe Reilly.
__________________________________________________________

The Irish American Information Service is a non-profit organization
providing up-to-the-minute political news from Ireland to the world.
The IAIS is funded entirely by your contributions. Please send your
tax-deductable contributions to IAIS at the 907 F st NE, Washington
DC 20002. You can visit us on the Web at http://www.iais.org