THE newly-elected Government must advance the aim of Irish unity and independence and the achievement of civil rights and equality for Northern nationalists, according to the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams.
Writing in today's issue of the Irish News, Mr Adams said the success of the peace process required the "Irish establishment" to do "the right thing".
He called on the Fianna Fail-PD Government to "demonstrate the political will to move forward and ensure any obstacles to progress in negotiations are removed".
Pointing out that British governments "unashamedly" promoted British national interests, he said Irish governments must do likewise. "Ireland is no longer the junior partner in Anglo-Irish relationships. Times have changed."
He claimed that Mr Tony Blair wanted a UK-based internal settlement in the North with lip-service to cross-Border agreements. This was not Sinn Fein's position and Mr Adams said he was "quite confident" Mr Blair's stance was at odds with the views of other parties and the Government.
Mr Blair's support for the maintenance of the union with Britain underlined the need for "nationalist Ireland" to take a strong stance for independence and Irish unity, achieved by agreement.
An internal six-county arrangement could not work and there had to be fundamental constitutional and political change. The status quo was unacceptable and unworkable.
On Drumcree, Mr Adams said the British government must not repeat the mistakes of its predecessor. "To do so would send a strong signal that one British government is much like another. It would say to nationalists that unionists rule whether it is on the streets or at the negotiation table."
Despite the declared intention of the two governments that decommissioning would not be an obstacle to Sinn Fein entry into talks, Mr Adams expressed his continuing concern that the issue would re-surface "further up the road" to prevent movement in the negotiations.
The release of all political prisoners must be part of an overall settlement. "There are five republican prisoners now entering their 22nd year in prison in England and 14, being held in special secure units."
Progress towards peace depended on "meaningful and inclusive" negotiations. "We share a common responsibility to make that happen. It will require frank and genuine dialogue and good faith. More than anything else at this time it needs the British government to move speedily to spell out how decommissioning will not block negotiations and what confidence- building measures will be introduced quickly.
"Let each of us put behind us the failures of the past, the lack of confidence, the distrust. We can do business, if political will exists on all sides. A lasting peace in Ireland is the prize."