Former loyalist and republican paramilitaries in Derry are to work together in a bid to tackle the problem of sectarianism in interface areas of the city.
The Progressive Unionist Party, which is the political wing of the UVF, and Sinn Féin, the political representatives of the IRA, said in a joint statement yesterday that their initiative would concentrate on interface areas throughout the Foyle constituency.
Leslie Mitchell, speaking on behalf of the PUP, said the two rival groups had been in contact with each other for over six months in a bid to tackle the problem of sectarianism.
"We have been involved in a peace process for several years now but sectarianism has increased over that period. None of us wants our children to grow up in the hostile environment we were subjected to. During the summer we have been in contact with Sinn Féin and they and ourselves played a key role in inter-community issues. We have each others' contact details and those contacts will continue. We also share common problems in terms of housing issues and high unemployment and we have been discussing those issues also."
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin councillor Lynn Fleming said the initiative showed that both parties were willing to take risks for peace. "We must be confident in building a better future for our children, a future where our common experience to poverty and sectarian division is ended."