The primary responsibility for the failure to implement the Belfast Agreement in full lies with the British government, Belfast's Lord Mayor today claimed.
Sinn Fein's Mr Alex Maskey said there had been several occasions over the past few years when the Irish Government could have played a bigger role in ensuring the British honoured their commitments.
He also said the recent release of 1972 British Cabinet papers showed the "absurd and shallow nature" of British government thinking at the time.
Delivering the annual Ferghal O'Hanlon lecture in Co Monaghan today, Mr Maskey said: "It is obvious five years' later that the Agreement has not been implemented in full.
"The primary responsibility for this failure lies with the British government and they have admitted this failure.
"Anti-agreement elements inside the British government and the unionist parties are setting the agenda. They have filtered the proposed changes through a unionist view of the world."
Mr Maskey said the Irish Government was a joint partner with the British in the shaping and protection of the Agreement, and therefore had a joint responsibility for its implementation.
"It is my view that there have been a number of occasions in the last few years when they should have been more vocal and assertive in ensuring the British government honored their commitments," he said.
"I believe this is particularly relevant in at least two crucial areas - the development of the all-Ireland institutions and the implementation of the Patten recommendations on policing."
He said the British had also failed to honour their commitment to the release of all political prisoners, and that there was no justification for the continuing imprisonment of republicans in Co Roscommon's Castlerea prison, whom he said should be released immediately.
He added that much publicity had been given to the revelations in the British Cabinet papers of 30 years' ago.
"These papers not only show the absurd and shallow nature of British government thinking and policy at the time they also highlight the colonial nature of the problem here," he said.
"This crisis management approach to the situation in Ireland has perpetuated the crisis itself."
Mr Maskey added that he was satisfied the Belfast Agreement could withstand the pressures of 2003 given the "proper will" on all sides.
PA