Durkan claims talks can save agreement

The Belfast Agreement can be saved by next week's talks, SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan said last night.

The Belfast Agreement can be saved by next week's talks, SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan said last night.

However, the Foyle MLA said people were losing faith with politicians. Politicians, he said, needed to "fulfil the democratic will of the people" instead of arguing about what needed to be done. "This will mean an end to all paramilitary violence and an end to all paramilitary organisations.

"For unionism it will mean the unequivocal return to power-sharing institutions as equals.

"For Sinn Féin it will mean the unequivocal participation in the Policing Board and their full co-operation in ensuring the rule of law.

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"Of the British government it will require real progress towards a normalised society."

The former Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister said the parties faced the task of "hardwiring" the Agreement.

He argued: "We have to hardwire the agreement into the political process regionally, nationally and between these islands.

"We have to hardwire peace international and community life.

"We have to hardwire reconciliation into our social, economic and cultural outlooks. For our part, the SDLP has kept our promise to the people of Ireland by working 100 per cent of the Agreement for 100 per cent of the community.

"Having contributed nothing to the creation of this or any other crisis, now we are giving 100 per cent to ensure the Agreement can be put back on track. - (PA)