AT the conclusion of a two-day visit to Belfast, the President of the European Parliament, Jose Maria Gil-Robles, said he was shocked by the recent killings. Mr Gil-Robles, who was in Northern Ireland at the invitation of Mo Mowlam to see how EU peace funds were being used, said there would always be attempts to stop the talks process reaching a peaceful settlement. Nevertheless, he remained hopeful that a successful conclusion would be achieved.
The President visited a number of EU-funded projects, including the Townsend Enterprise Park on the peaceline between the Shankill Road and the Falls Road, and a community centre in North Belfast which was set up to assist victims of the Troubles.
Mr Gil-Robles said the European Parliament was anxious to support efforts to bring people from different communities together. He also thought that the EU- funded peace and reconciliation programme could perhaps be used as a model for action in other parts of the world. During the visit the President also held talks with the leaders of the four main churches and was a guest of honour at a lunch hosted by Belfast's Lord Mayor, Alban Maginness, and the Northern Ireland Partnership Board.