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here is one of the leading articles from today's independent (independent.co.uk), which ironically takes us from the currant topic back to the starting one.
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The conditions are right for a 'big bang' solution in Ulster
04 March 2003
To listen to representatives from the republican and Unionist camps over the years is to be aware that both sides have seen themselves involved in what economists call a zero-sum game, in which advantages gained by one side can only be bought at the cost of a loss of equal magnitude to the other. In fact, as in a successful trade negotiation, both sides could profit if they could build shared institutions to manage their conflict and govern their province without physical violence. This, of course, was the intention of the Good Friday Agreement, which is now nearly five years old, but still only partially implemented.
Yesterday's meetings of all the parties in Belfast to consider a paper put forward by the British and Irish governments was an attempt to abandon the piecemeal approach that achieved much in the first few years following the agreement, but eventually became counterproductive as the Unionists focused on such IRA violations of at least the spirit of the agreement as the arrest of its members in Colombia, the break-in at the Castlereagh police HQ and the spying at Stormont. Meanwhile, republicans argued that they could do no more without Unionist goodwill and more concessions from London on demilitarisation, policing and amnesty for IRA members on the run.
The bickering and dissatisfaction eventually led to a suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly and its executive, followed by Tony Blair's speech last October when he called on the IRA to make an "act of completion" that would formally mark an end to the war and a commitment to exclusively democratic means in the pursuit of its goal of a united Ireland.
This "big-bang" conclusion is tempting to endorse, particularly as everyone must share the frustration of the people of Ulster with the slow pace of progress. There are reasons for hope, as the republicans must realise that they cannot go on forever with an Armalite in reserve, and the years of working at Stormont have shown even Unionist politicians the value of devolved government, to themselves and their constituents. Finally, success in Northern Ireland can still be an inspiration to resolving long-lasting disputes elsewhere in the world.
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 NFA
| quote: | | DROP PILLS NOT BOMBS |
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