THE US Congressman Mr Joe Kennedy, nephew of the late President J.F. Kennedy, met loyalist and nationalist representatives in Belfast yesterday during a fact-finding tour, which he said was aimed at assessing the prospects for peace.
Alter an hour-long meeting with the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, in west Belfast, Mr Kennedy said he had been given to understand that if there were an assurance of swift entry to the peace talks for Sinn Fein, Mr Adams would hope to be able to get the IRA to declare a permanent ceasefire.
In response to this, Mr Adams said: "Well, we want to see peace permanently. There is no point in having a temporary peace. Everybody deserves a permanent peace.
Mr Kennedy said he had made absolutely clear to Mr Adams his opposition to the use of violence. "I don't believe that practising the use of violence does anyone any good," he said.
Mr Kennedy met the SDLP's West Belfast MP, Dr Joe Hendron, who briefed him on recent inward investment and economic regeneration projects. With Dr Hendron and the UUP MP, Mr Cecil Walker, he then visited the Greater Shankill Development Agency and met the PUP spokesman, Mr David Ervine.
On several occasions, the congressman paid tribute to the loyalist paramilitaries for maintaining their ceasefire. He said: "I think it is important that those of us who have spoken out for the nationalist cause in the past recognise the courage that people on the loyalist side have shown."
Mr Kennedy will continue his visit today.