(12 Mar 1998) English/Nat
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and his delegation arrived on Thursday at Downing Street for talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The party demanded the meeting with the prime minister before agreeing to return to the negotiations on a peaceful future for Northern Ireland.
It is expected that Sinn Fein - which was temporarily expelled
from the talks last month over two killings linked to the Irish Republican Army will return to the round talks table on March 23.
The Sinn Fein delegation arrived early on Thursday morning for an important meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Sinn Fein was temporarily expelled from the all-party round-table talks last month after two killings were linked to the I-R-A.
Sinn Fein is the political wing of the Irish Republican Army.
Sinn Fein negotiator Caoimhghin O'Caolain (Kwiveen O' Cowlan)
read a statement before the group entered Number Ten for their meeting with Blair.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"First of all I think it is important that we recognise that this is a critical meeting, it is one that we as a party welcome. It comes at an important juncture in the peace process. Today's opportunity affords us, in Sinn Fein, the chance to convey to the British Prime Minister Mr Blair our concerns at the seriousness of the situation currently, of the double standards employed within the process and of the need to ensure that there is a full respect for all the mandates representative of opinion in the island of Ireland. We, as a party, represent a mandate that we enjoy throughout the length and breadth of Ireland and we have been excluded at the whim of the securicrats and it is important that it is noted both here and in Ireland that we will not collude in our own exclusion. What is critical, what is essential, is an understanding of the need for fundamental constitutional and political change and for the development of a programme of demilitarisation, of the need for progress and tangible progress on the ground in relation to all the issues within the equality agenda. It is very important that people on the ground in Ireland, in the areas of greatest need, those who have been in the margins for so long have the opportunity to properly measure real and tangible progress in their daily life condition.
All of this will be reflected here this morning in our engagement with the prime minister. Thank you.
SUPERCAPTION: Caoimhghin O'Caolain, Sinn Fein negotiator
Blair is expected to tell Adams that he is determined to reach an agreement by the May deadline.
Adams had planned to leave for the U-S on Wednesday but delayed his departure for the Blair meeting.
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