The North's Parades Commission has warned all sides involved in Orange marching disputes against using the current review of the commission's role to delay looking for solutions.
In a fresh attempt to entice the Orange Order into dialogue with both the commission and nationalist residents' groups, the commission's chairman, Mr Tony Holland, yesterday proposed seven principles aimed at serving as guidelines at future parades.
While welcoming the review of the commission's role, to be headed by Sir George Quigley, Mr Holland said it would be a mistake to dwell on the failures of the past. The review might well bring about a different form of commission with different members but its work had to remain more or less the same, he added. Therefore, it was futile to await the review's outcome before starting the dialogue so urgently required. "The commission uses its adjudication powers to impose conditions on parades only when all else has failed and when people on the ground cannot agree among themselves. To that extent we are not there to resolve the parades issue on our own, but to pick up the pieces when things go wrong.
"The change we all need to achieve is to understand the causes of disagreement and then to work to a plan to resolve them. That involves everyone preferably acting at a local level - loyal orders, resident groups, bands and civic church and business leaders. The commission can help facilitate these discussions - and much prefers doing that to adjudicating. None of the stakeholders, and we are all stakeholders, should turn their back on the parades issue and leave it to others to solve," he concluded.
The seven principles include recognition by the whole community of the human rights of marchers and residents. They also recommend condemnation of those who deliberately seek to deny the human rights of others, as well as of those who use parades to further sectarian, bigoted or political agendas.
Further recommendations are an acknowledgement of the historical and cultural importance of parades, a willingness by both sides to discuss their positions and an appreciation of the civil and commercial interests in the local and international perceptions of parades. Yesterday's initiative was launched in the aftermath of the withdrawal of the South African mediator, Mr Brian Currin, from mediation efforts with the Orange Order. The commission will also be taking part in a conference on the parades issue, organised by the University of Ulster and the Community Relations Council, later this month. Mr Holland said the commission's principles could only be implemented with the full co-operation of all parties.
"We are ready to play the fullest part in facilitating dialogue and debate, for example at the conference in which we will be active participants. But we need willing partners.
"We look for those who have worked so hard in the past to declare themselves in support of some broad core parading values and principles that can be applied to any parading situation," he added.