Adams - Ian Paisley's conditional 'yes' at Saint Andrews is a positive shift for rejectionist unionism

Published: 24 October, 2006

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has this afternoon delivered the keynote address at a party conference entitled "Building an Integrated Future for the Border Region" in the Canal Court, Newry. In the course of his remarks at today's conference Mr Adams spoke about the current political situation and said:

There have been many positive developments in recent years. I include the talks at St Andrews though there are elements of the British and Irish governments agreement at Saint Andrews which many republicans and nationalists would have difficulties with.  The text needs to be scrutinised carefully and needs to be looked at in the context of
the overall peace process.

The most important outcome of the Saint Andrews talks is that DUP leader Ian Paisley said yes, even if it was a qualified yes and even if he has wobbled since then. The fact is that Ian Paisley's conditional yes at Saint Andrews is a positive shift for rejectionist unionism.  That is good for the rest of the people of this island.

There are justifiable concerns that the Programme for Government has still not met as was planned.  Sinn Féin continues to be engaged with the two governments as we try and work through the current difficulties which are primarily between the DUP and the British government.

Republicans have to be magnanimous but we also have to be vigilant that the two governments do nothing that would undermine the Good Friday Agreement or its political institutions.

The British government has to stop pandering to the unrealistic demands of the DUP.  And the Irish government needs to assert it's role as co-equal partner with the British.

It is crucially important that the Irish government doesn't stand back from the process. They need to ensure that the British government don't take short sighted decisions now which could cause greater problems down the road.”