Madam, - As Mr Hain and Mr Ahern seek to persuade the Northern Ireland political class to re-enter the Assembly it might be apt to consider a few points.
The two governments have created the best possible conditions for a deal. The movement within the republican constituency was and is truly historic.
There is no capacity within unionism to respond in a positive manner. This will not change until there is a debate between unionism that would govern and unionism that won't.
It is folly to expect all loyalists to respond positively when the leaders of unionism refuse to acknowledge the Provisional IRA's war to be over. And a strategy that seeks to manoeuvre the DUP into power-sharing will not provide a long-term solution.
I predict the Mr Hain and Mr Ahern will be frustrated in their attempts to persuade local politicians to accept the logic of progress. But should that be the case the failure will not be theirs. - Yours, etc,
DAVID ROSE, Deputy Leader, Progressive Unionist Party, Newtownards Road, Belfast 4.