SF leader calls for an urgent and extensive review of peace process

THE Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has called on the two governments to carry out an urgent, wholesale review of the peace…

THE Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has called on the two governments to carry out an urgent, wholesale review of the peace process and to develop a new, coherent and viable strategy.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Adams demanded an end to the "unionist veto". He urged both governments to follow an "equality agenda" which would bring practical changes to people's lives, particularly those of nationalists.

"Events over the last week have been traumatic", be said. "For nationalists, their worst fears have been realised by the capitulation of the British government to the campaign of mass intimidation, murder, violence and threats of violence orchestrated by the political leadership of unionism.

Events last week on Garvaghy Road proved unionists could not have a veto over any aspect of the talks, Mr Adams said. A veto would mean there would be "no equality, no democracy and no political change". The campaign of mass intimidation totally undermined the unionist and loyalist parties who declared commitment to the Mitchell principles.

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Sinn Fein was locked out of talks, yet the unionists were able to withdraw from negotiations, engage in "an orchestrated campaign of mass intimidation and terror" and then walk back in again.

Mr Adams said a new peace process must be built on the basis of equality and without any preconditions or vetoes. "If there is to be peace, there must be change."

"The onus must go back on the governments to bring about that change", he said. "London and Dublin must start meaningful negotiations. If unionists refuse to get involved, then the process should continue without them", he added.

The British government must initiate "confidence building measures