The structures set out in the Belfast Agreement should be in place in shadow form by the October 31st deadline, the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, told the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body in York yesterday. Decommissioning was not easy, but it had to happen and, by talking, a way forward would be found, Dr Mowlam said. She was an optimist, as always. It was not helpful to focus on divisions, so the parties should move forward where there was agreement.
Every person and every party leader wanted progress, so it would happen. The deadline would be achieved despite lost time over the summer because of the barbarity of Omagh, and she would do all she could to facilitate progress.
Dr Mowlam said all those who had signed the agreement signed up for everything, but it was not a precondition to progress being made on any other dimension. If further down the road progress had to be reviewed, she would do it, but she did not want to.
"It is not helpful for me to say what should happen. We will give them space and help in whatever way we can." The Northern Secretary said the US President and Mrs Clinton had helped in the peace process. They were not fair-weather friends because they were there when it got tough and not just when there were cameras. "They were prepared to stay up at night and move the process forward." She would not speculate on the hypothetical question of the consequences of President Clinton losing power.
Among others who had helped, she said, in getting the process to where it was today was Mr George Mitchell. "He has skills others don't have and he is an incredible man in the way he operates. We would never have got there without him." She also thanked the EU Commissioner, Ms Monika Wulf-Mathies .
Progress to date had been achieved through years and years of work and commitment. It had developed quickly since the agreement, but it was now crucial to build trust. The hardest part was the rebuilding of the culture of confidence. It had been there when the process started, but events such as Omagh had damaged it.
Confidence, trust and respect across the communities could not be rebuilt quickly, but it was necessary to take a step back and see how far people had come and now how far they had to go and understand the history and roots, she said. "There is a long way to go and some tough hurdles to climb over, but we will make it because the people want it and the politicians will make it happen," Dr Mowlam added.