February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Susan Falvella-Garraty
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sinn Fein’s chief negotiator painted a gloomy picture of the Northern Ireland peace process on his visit to Washington last week but suggested previous proposals could still pave the way for reestablishing the fledgling power-sharing government.
Martin McGuinness said the British government’s decision to suspend the governing executive last month might delay a resolution of the conflict for "many years."
McGuinness said Thursday that the parties need to "go back to the drawing board" in order to find a solution to the decommissioning issue and to restore the executive to power. He encouraged all to parties find a solution quickly or again live with the threat of violence in the province.
"The Good Friday accord has lost its credibility," he said.
McGuinness was speaking at a news conference before meeting with Clinton administration officials White House National Security Adviser Sandy Berger and Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering.
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But the Sinn Fein leader also said there is a chance that the "new and significant proposal" previously presented to General John de Chastelain on the same day as Mandelson’s decision to suspend powers could be put back on the table.
A proposal was put to de Chastelain for a possible context for putting arms beyond use as British Northern Secretary Peter Mandelson was moving to suspend the executive. While de Chastelain suggested the proposal could allow him to fulfill his mandate on decommissioning, Mandelson said he believed the move would not be enough.
McGuinness said a statement reaffirming the primacy of the commission delegated to oversee paramilitary arms decommissioning would be a step in the right direction.
"We would like a clear statement from the British prime minister, the taoiseach, and President Clinton that it is an independent commission," McGuinness said, "and that it will not respond to ultimatums from one party."
McGuinness said the UUP leader, David Trimble, and Mandelson "lust after an IRA surrender" and that until a more "realistic" position is taken, it is unlikely the IRA will offer up any weapons.
A tired but resolute figure, McGuinness said there had been no assurances privately or publicly to the UUP that Sinn Fein would ever be able to guarantee any IRA decommissioning.
One possible course Sinn Fein may pursue to return power to the elected executive is a judicial appeal.
"What the British have done is totally and absolutely illegal," McGuinness said.
White House officials said they will now meditate on the various views presented to them this week by McGuinness, Mandelson, and Trimble. One route they apparently will not pursue is pressuring Sinn Fein to come up with IRA decommissioning with threats to take away the party’s ability to fund-raise in the United States.
Over the last week, news reports from London described the Clinton administration as considering withdrawing invitations for Sinn Fein to its St. Patrick’s Day celebration as well as stopping American donors from contributing to Sinn Fein.
A White House spokesman, David Leavy, said: "Those stories are totally made-up and completely wrong." He said inclusion of Sinn Fein into the political process has allowed the peace process to progress.
McGuinness said he had no doubt that the welcome mat at the White House and open wallets accessible here would remain available to his party. "We have forged strong relationships with the Clinton administration and find them a continuing source of strength," he said.