THE Tanaiste has warned Sinn Fein that the Government is prepared to pursue the peace process with or without its participation. Speaking in Palermo at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Mr Spring also insisted that the Government's forthcoming White Paper on foreign policy would not advocate any repudiation of neutrality. The White Paper is expected to be published within the next fortnight.
Mr Spring said the "best solution" in the peace process was to have all party talks including Sinn Fein, but that "if they are not participating, we have to go on with the process".
Sinn Fein understand "what they have to do," he said, and there had to be a ceasefire before they could participate in talks.
But without one "we have to look for an alternative. We cannot be hijacked by intransigence on behalf of the IRA . . . The ideal solution is inclusive, but they have to include themselves."
He continued: "If we're going to find a solution to the difficulties in Northern Ireland there have to be all party talks between the parties in Northern Ireland and the two governments. The two governments are firm in their determination to have those talks starting on June 10th.
"Discussions are taking place between the governments and the parties on an elective process which will lead directly and without further preconditions into all party talks," Mr Spring said.
Asked if there was any question of the Government's forthcoming White Paper recommending a change in Ireland's attitude to Article 5 of the Western European Union treaty, which pledges automatic mutual assistance to fellow members if attacked, Mr Spring said "No".
Non involvement in such commitments is seen by the Government and most observers as a key element of neutrality.
Ministers have spoken of full integration of the WEU into the EU as one of the options facing the treaty changing Inter Governmental Conference.
But Article 5 and the WEU commitment to a nuclear based defence strategy make such a merger politically impossible for the Coalition Government.
Mr Spring's insistence that the Government's position on Article 5 is to remain unchanged reflects a significant compromise by Fine Gael, which would certainly have preferred to open a wider debate on the issue.
But Ireland would, he said, be "prepared to make its contribution where Ireland can make a contribution - in the areas of humanitarian aid, search and rescue, and peacekeeping."
