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07/05/2003
UUP called IRA bluff claims Trimble
UUP leader, David Trimble, has claimed that his party called the IRA's bluff by proving that they "were not prepared to engage in acts of completion".
Mr Trimble was responding to the two statements (one issued to the two governments three weeks ago, the second on its current thinking) issued by the IRA on Tuesday night following last week's postponement of the May 29 elections.
Mr Trimble claimed that the IRA had used the talk of a third act of decommissioning "as a bargaining chip" but that they had been caught on the hop.
He said: “The truth is they [the IRA] could not answer the simple and straightforward question: They were asked to say that all paramilitary activities would be ended and they couldn’t say it.
“Their position is unsustainable and indefensible. As far at the Ulster Unionist Party is concerned, we will maintain the pressure on them to do what they should have done three years ago.”
In its latest statement the IRA claimed that their statement to the two government's in April was clear: "There is no lack of clarity. Our statement and the commitments contained in it was dependent on agreement involving the two governments, the UUP and Sinn Fein.
"Regrettably the two governments and the UUP rejected our statement and our initiatives."
In their original statement the organisation promised that if the Good Friday Agreement was fully implemented it would make it possible to definitively set aside its arms.
Mr Adams is expected to make a statement on these developments in London this afternoon.
Meanwhile the British and Irish Governments have said there had to be an unambiguous response from the IRA on the issue of paramilitary activity.
Following talks in Dublin yesterday Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair said clear and unequivocal answers would be needed beore the whole process could be moved forward.
The two leaders also set out which parts of their joint declaration should be implemented.
(MB)
Mr Trimble was responding to the two statements (one issued to the two governments three weeks ago, the second on its current thinking) issued by the IRA on Tuesday night following last week's postponement of the May 29 elections.
Mr Trimble claimed that the IRA had used the talk of a third act of decommissioning "as a bargaining chip" but that they had been caught on the hop.
He said: “The truth is they [the IRA] could not answer the simple and straightforward question: They were asked to say that all paramilitary activities would be ended and they couldn’t say it.
“Their position is unsustainable and indefensible. As far at the Ulster Unionist Party is concerned, we will maintain the pressure on them to do what they should have done three years ago.”
In its latest statement the IRA claimed that their statement to the two government's in April was clear: "There is no lack of clarity. Our statement and the commitments contained in it was dependent on agreement involving the two governments, the UUP and Sinn Fein.
"Regrettably the two governments and the UUP rejected our statement and our initiatives."
In their original statement the organisation promised that if the Good Friday Agreement was fully implemented it would make it possible to definitively set aside its arms.
Mr Adams is expected to make a statement on these developments in London this afternoon.
Meanwhile the British and Irish Governments have said there had to be an unambiguous response from the IRA on the issue of paramilitary activity.
Following talks in Dublin yesterday Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair said clear and unequivocal answers would be needed beore the whole process could be moved forward.
The two leaders also set out which parts of their joint declaration should be implemented.
(MB)
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