The Peace Process is at "the point of deepest crisis" thanks to British bad faith, a rally commemorating the 1916 Rising was told today. Sinn FéinMLA Alex Maskey told the rally, at the Republican Plot in Milltown Cemetery, the IRA had created whatever room existed for further negotiations "despite obstacles and provocation".
He urged supporters to strengthen the party's hand at forthcoming elections, cautioning: "There is no room for complacency or disunity."
The West Belfast member of the Northern Ireland Assembly was the main speaker at the largest gathering to commemorate the Easter 1916 rising.
Only a handful of the annual demonstrations honouring the IRA dead of the past 85 years took place today because of the new foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Northern Ireland.Addressing supporters, Mr Maskey said the party's goal of a free and united Ireland was in sight.
He said: "... The IRA has continued to play a central role in advancing the cause of peace.
"It is they who, despite obstacles and provocation, have created the space for negotiations and further movement.
"Their ceasefires, their arms dumps inspections, their engagement with de Chastelain. I commend their determination, vision and initiative."
Mr Maskey claimed republican efforts to make the peace process work had been undermined by the British Government's position on policing and demilitarisation and "alleged pro-Agreement unionists".
"This process has stumbled from one crisis to another and no doubt we are now at the point of deepest crisis - despite the spin put on the ending of negotiations at Hillsborough.
"Make no mistake: British bad faith and failure to deliver on their obligations to the Good Friday Agreement only fuels the "no" camps and destabilises the peace process itself."
In an appeal to republicans opposed to the current strategy, he said: "Please understand that the overwhelming body of republican opinion is behind a leadership which has been there, done it and never gone away.
"We have brought the struggle to an unprecedented level of national and international support since partition and with the people's support we will see this through to success."
PA