Discussions about a united Ireland suggested by the Sinn Féin leader, Mr Gerry Adams, would be "purely academic" at a time when politicians' focus should be on the "here and now" and issues such as improving people's economic and social conditions, the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, said yesterday. Patrick Smyth, Washington Correspondent, reports.
Speaking to journalists at the National Press Club in Washington, Mr Trimble acknowledged, however, that Mr Adams's comments accepting that unionist "consent and assent" would be needed to create a united were an advance.
But, he asked, "when did he realise it was wrong [to force them against their will\] and what view does he take of the actions of the republican movement over the last few decades?
"And is he now prepared to follow through the logic of his comments by making it clear that the republican movement now recognises that its actions and that the campaigns that they engaged in were quite wrong in all senses of the word?" Mr Trimble continued.
"I think one also has to say that the agreement is quite clear on all these matters and the agreement says it's for the people of Northern Ireland to decide their constitutional destiny."
The Deputy First Minister, Mr Mark Durkan, said he "welcomed any recognition from any quarter that a united Ireland cannot be achieved by force."
He argued that the Belfast Agreement already provided that unity could only come about through the consent of the majority in the North but also in the context of institutions and arrangements which continued to reflect diversity and "also that provide guarantees in terms of cross-community decisions through the political arrangements that exist and guarantees that people will continue to be able to express their full political identity". Hence arrangements for North-South and British-Irish dialogue.
"I think it is important that we work on the basis of the agreement itself. Within the context of the agreement, decisions can be made in the future according to consent about whether people want to stay in the union or become part of a united Ireland," Mr Durkan said.
Mr Durkan said Sinn Féin had in the past sought to portray the SDLP as giving the unionists a veto on unification, and the party upheld the agreement requirement for a simple majority in the North to determine the issue.
It appeared Mr Adams was creating a new yardstick with his reference to a Unionist majority.
Mr Trimble refused to endorse or reject a call by a senior party member for the resignation of the North's Police Ombudsman, Ms Nuala O'Loan.
Mr Durkan said their emphasis should not be on personalities, either that of Ms O'Loan or the Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, but on ensuring that the reassurances sought by the Omagh families on the future investigation could be met.
Last night the two men jointly opened the new Northern Ireland Bureau, only three streets from the White House.
Mr Trimble said the bureau's opening was a reflection of the growing maturity of the institutions in the North.