MESSAGE BOARD: Peace in Northern Ireland?  IN-DEPTH SPECIAL: The Path to Peace Northern Ireland Timeline

June 30, 1999
Web posted at: 9:43 a.m. EDT (1343 GMT)

From Correspondent Fionnuala Sweeney

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (CNN) -- Rival negotiators in Northern Ireland sat down Wednesday for what one participant called "D-Day" on talks to snap a deadlock in the troubled province's peace process.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair set a midnight deadline for Catholic and Protestant politicians to come to terms over an interpretation of last year's Good Friday accord, clearing the way to form a historic Catholic-Protestant government to replace British rule.

David Trimble, leader of the Protestant, pro-British Ulster Unionists, said Wednesday's meeting marked "the moment of truth" for the republican movement.

"The republican movement includes two things -- a political party (Sinn Fein) and a private army (the IRA)," said Trimble, who is also Northern Ireland's elected first minister. "It must decide which of the two it prefers."

The Ulster Unionists want the Catholic Irish Republican Army to set a timetable and begin turning in its weapons before Sinn Fein is allowed to take its place in Northern Ireland's new government.

Sinn Fein, the political arm of the IRA, argues that under the Good Friday accord, the IRA does not have to decommission its weapons until May 2000. Sinn Fein also says it is not responsible for the actions of the IRA.

"David Trimble needs to read the agreement ... he knows there are no preconditions to setting up the executive," said Sinn Fein negotiator Bairbre de-Brun. "The section on decommissioning was carefully negotiated."

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he hoped the sides could reach an agreement.

"We are here to make this D-Day for the people of this island," Adams said, referring to June 6, 1944 -- the day the Allies invaded Europe during World War II. Adams made the comments as he arrived at Wednesday's talks at Stormont Castle near Belfast.

"I am here with a hope that it will be done. I think the broad shape of a deal within the terms of the agreement is clear, but it is impossible to call it."

Marching season looms

While Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said the midnight deadline is firm, some participants admitted privately that the talks could continue into Thursday morning.

John Hume, leader of the moderate Catholics of the Social Democratic and Labor Party, said an agreement was necessary.

"The people (of Northern Ireland) have overwhelmingly in a referendum endorsed this agreement (the accord)," he said. "It is the duty of everyone who regards himself as a democrat to implement this agreement."

"You don't heal the wounds of centuries in a fortnight," Hume added. "The real issue about these guns is that they stop using them."

Later Wednesday, a crucial report on the willingness of Northern Ireland's paramilitary organizations to hand in their weapons will be released. Ahern and Blair delayed the Tuesday release date of the report to allow more time for progress in the talks.

Looming in the background of the current round of talks Northern Ireland's "marching season," commemorating British victories over the Catholic Irish in centuries past. In recent years, those marches have spurred violent conflicts when the pro-British Orangemen marched through Catholic neighborhoods.

Protestants already are angry over a decision by authorities earlier this week to ban what is arguably the most contentious parade of the summer, held annually in Drumcree and originally set to take place Sunday.

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