Do not be fooled by Dublin Assurances - Nesbitt
Commenting after political representatives of the UDA had met the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, Dermot Nesbitt said that none should be fooled by the honeyed words of Bertie Ahern.
Dermot Nesbitt said: “When Mr Ahern states that there will be no joint authority this is not new – this has always been the legal position. What he does not refer to is the undue interference in the affairs of Northern Ireland that will be strengthened in the event of devolution not returning.”
Dermot Nesbitt continued: “To make matters worse, Tony Blair has repudiated a central element of agreed North/South relations. Mr Blair has now formally rejected that North/South co-operation is to be on the basis of benefit to both communities and by agreement of both communities. He views such co-operation now as for the sole purpose of giving expression to the aspiration of nationalists for Irish Unity: an Irish Republican’s charter for continued political instability. This new position of Mr Blair not only rejects The Agreement but is a rejection of the UK Government’s commitments under international law.”
Mr. Nesbitt concluded: “If Mr Ahern has given an assurance yesterday to the UDA political representatives that there is only one agreement and that there will be no imposition of a further agreement, then Mr Ahern should check this against the position now adopted by the UK Government. My advice to all, do not be fooled by the honeyed words of Mr Ahern, reality tells a different story. The Ulster Unionist Party is clear: we wish the same standards of democracy as apply elsewhere in the democratic world and to date this has not been demonstrated either by the words or actions of both Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern.”