(17 Jul 1996) English/Nat
Multi-party peace talks resumed Tuesday in Northern Ireland after a week of violence in the British province including a car bomb that wrecked a rural hotel.
The violence threatened to end the talks which started four weeks ago in June.
Accusations have been flying about who is to blame for the widespread rioting with much anger focused on the role David Trimble, head of the pro-British Ulster Unionist Party, played in the unrest.
Although no progress was made, the British government said it was a success that no-one walked out.
Like all of the British province, the Northern Ireland city of Belfast is still reeling from a week of rioting that culminated in a car bomb at a rural hotel.
Tuesday's multi-party talks resumed with all sides blaming each other for the widespread violence.
Peace talks began June 10 on finding a way to govern Northern Ireland that balances the Protestant determination that the province remain linked to Britain with the desires of Catholics who want stronger ties to the Irish Republic.
Chairman of the talks, former U-S Senator George Mitchell said he was convinced progress still was possible.
Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring, who sharply criticised British and police officials last week, arrived to meet Sir Patrick Mayhew, the British minister responsible for governing Northern Ireland.
After the series of talks between the parties finished for the day, the British government said it was a success that no-one walked out.
The leader of the pro-British Democratic Unionist party said it was very important for all sides to participate in the talks.
SOUNDBITE:
"I did tell the Senator if he doesn't get the people around the table this week then it will be a very serious matter because the people that sent me here expect me to put their views forthrightly at a table which all the participants are present."
SUPER CAPTION: Reverend Ian Paisley, MP, Leader, Democratic Unionist Party
Much of the recrimination centered on the role David Trimble, head of the pro-British Ulster Unionist Party, played in last week's unrest.
He belongs to the Orange Order whose march through a Catholic area was banned by the police earlier last week.
A tense standoff developed between the police and the Protestant Orange men and Trimble was a highly visible presence at the barricades.
After rioting by Orange supporters, the police reversed the ban and allowed the march which sparked a huge Catholic backlash.
Trimble's role at the peace talks is now being questioned although he is adamant the process should continue.
SOUNDBITE:
"We told the chairman that we think that this process should continue and we suspect that there are parties that don't want it to continue and that there are parties that would like to see this process collapse and are not prepared to make a commitment to it - or a real commitment to it."
SUPER CAPTION: David Trimble MP, Leader, Ulster Unionist Party
The leader of the moderate Catholic dominated Social Democratic Labour Party has already withdrawn his party from the peace forum which is running simultaneously with the multi-party peace talks.
His patience appears to be running out and he called for the time wasting to stop and real talks to begin.
SOUNDBITE:
SUPER CAPTION: John Hume MP, Leader, SDLP
The Irish Foreign Minister was slightly more optimistic and said the violence had served to give the talks a new urgency.
SOUNDBITE:
SUPER CAPTION: Dick Spring, Irish Foreign Minister
SOUNDBITE:
SUPER CAPTION: Sir Patrick Mayhew, UK Northern Ireland Secretary (Minister)
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