Republicans must commit themselves to peace and democracy or they will have no place in any government in Northern Ireland, it was claimed today.
Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson said: "The days of half measures, hidden gestures and woolly words are over. Terror and democracy cannot co-exist."
Mr Robinson made his comments to a conference in hosted by the Small Firms' Association in Dublin Castle this morning. He reaffirmed the commitment of the unionist community to the negotiation process and said that his party's successful election in November gave him a clear mandate. "We are dedicated to this task and determined to see democracy endure and terrorism terminated," he said.
In the strongest signal yet about the possibility of a settlement in the North, Mr Robinson added: "The choice for republicans is simple. The terms will not change. Unionists are unshakeable in our determination to hold the line."
Mr Robinson told business leaders that all the ingredients were in place to achieve an agreed settlement at the talks process in Leeds Castle next week. But he said: "I want to see the threat of terrorism removed, a devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland, and a congenial and positive relationship between the North and the Republic."
Mr Robinson's comments were echoed today by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who warned republicans they would never achieve any of their dreams for Northern Ireland without totally abandoning violence. Mr Blair said there was a clear understanding across the movement that "the way of violence does not offer any hope".
"If there were to be a return to full-scale violence that would be a complete cul-de-sac for any of the aims republicanism wants to achieve," he said at his monthly Downing Street press conference. If peace was to last in Northern Ireland with a genuine power-sharing executive, there had to be an understanding that all forms of violence had to cease, Mr Blair said.
Mr Robinson also told business delegates that small local firms formed the backbone of any economy. But he said businesses in the North endured a difficult environment in which violence damaged or destroyed years of endeavour.
Mr Robinson called for a multimillion programme of investment in the North by the Irish Government. He reiterated his call for a "peace fund" which would be available to a new government in the North to aid investment and development. This would be money sourced from the savings in security spending which would modernise local infrastructure.
The Small Firms Association which invited Mr Robinson to their annual conference in Dublin Castle said it hoped his visit would lead to greater cross-border business co-operation. SFA chief Mr Pat Delaney said: "The potential is enormous for greater business and economic development between the North and the South."
PA