17/06/2002

Trimble resignation possible to keep process on track

The Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has said he would consider resigning again if he thought it would help the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Trimble who is also the First Minister of the Northern Ireland executive told BBC 1’s On the Record programme: “When the circumstances are right, if it is necessary, I am quite happy to do it.

“But if I do it, it will be in order to make progress, to make further progress in order to ensure the agreement is fulfilled and fully implemented.”

Mr Trimble’s warning comes in the midst of angry unionist calls for the Secretary of State to declare the IRA’s ceasefire over in light of fresh violence in the Short Strand and allegations that the group’s army ruling council knew and sanctioned terrorist activity in Colombia.

Last week hard-line Ulster Unionist David Burnside said he was calling on his party to set a 1 July deadline for a withdrawal from the executive if action is not taken against Sinn Féin.

“This cannot go on any longer,” Mr Burnside said last Friday, “the IRA are in breach of their ceasefire.”

Meanwhile the Northern Ireland Secretary of State today played down any difficulties and said he was not contemplating suspending the assembly.

Dr Reid said: “We understand that there is a confidence in the process which needs to be injected. There is no halting stage, no halfway house along the way where we can contemplate having both paramilitary violence and a degree of democracy.”

(AMcE)

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