Sinn Féin must give its backing to Northern Ireland's new police force, US President George W. Bush's special envoy to the province urged today.
Mr Richard Haass insisted that resolving the policing issue was "basic" to resolving Northern Ireland's problems, and that Sinn Féin's leaders ought to work through their concerns over the force's structure from the inside.
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Mr Richard Haass
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Sinn Féin has declined to take up its two places on the new Police Service of Northern Ireland's 19-member Policing Board.
But following talks in London this morning with Northern Secretary Dr John Reid, Mr Haass told reporters that when he took on the role a year ago almost everyone involved in the North's problems had emphasised to him the importance of the policing issue.
He continued: "So my message now is essentially to hand that back and say it is the most basic (issue). Let's get on it, let's get on the Board. If you have problems, if you Sinn Féin have problems, the best way to deal with those problems is as an insider.
"If one wants to improve the police service in Northern Ireland, the best way I know how to do it is to attract recruits who are truly representative of the society, to have all political viewpoints represented.
"So I really hope that Sinn Féin will see its way to participating," added Mr Haass, who is due to discuss the issue during talks with Sinn Féin leaders tomorrow.
PA