![[Sinn Fein]](http://www.sinnfein.org/graphics/title_gifs/sf.gif)
13 May 2000
Gerry Adams says governments need to resist doing side deals
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams MP today (Saturday) urged the two governments ``to see beyond the current difficulties and resist the temptation to do contradictory side deals''.
Speaking at the opening of a new Sinn Fein centre in Tralee, County Kerry, with Martin Ferris, Mr Adams very specifically warned on the issue of flags and the RUC or any of the other touchstone issues for nationalists and republicans. ``It would be folly for the British Government to make concessions to unionism on any of these matters,'' he said.
Mr Adams continued:
``Sinn Fein does not underestimate how unionism is challenged by the uncertainties of the peace process, particularly at this time, in the wake of last weekend's initiative and in the run-up to next weekend's Ulster Unionist Council meeting. But the peace process also presents challenges to the other parties and particularly to the two governments. Next week will see the continuation of the effort to renegotiate the context of the measures agreed by the two governments and on which the IRA initiative is predicated.
``Whether it be on the issue of flags or the RUC - or any other touchstone issue for nationalists and republicans - it would be folly for the British Government to make concessions to unionism on any of these matters. The focus of the two governments must be long-term and strategic. Mr Trimble has a proven record of over-negotiating and, of course, his opponents will accept nothing less than the destruction of the Good Friday Agreement.
``So the two governments must see beyond the current difficulties and resist the temptation to do contradictory side deals. Unionism should know by now not to have any faith in the politics of fudge. The choice is clear: to go forward on the basis of the Good Friday Agreement and a partnership between all the pro-Agreement parties, or go backwards.''
Mr Adams also spoke out about the ongoing revelations about corruption in the 26-County state.
``The revelations of corruption and bribery are endemic of the subversion of politics by big business. No one should imagine that this problem is confined solely to Dublin. It is endemic in the politics of the big parties.
``One way of dealing with the corruption in the planning process would be to ensure that all planning meetings which are currently held in committee should be open to the public and the media. Sinn Fein councillors in County Kerry will be proposing this in their local authorities.''
Sinn Fein Press Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Tel: +353-1-8726100 and +353-1-8726839 · Fax +353-1-8733074
E-mail: sinnfein@irlnet.com · Website: http://www.sinnfein.org
Sinn Fein · Sinn Fein Documents