16th June 2003

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McGuinness - No renegotiation of the Good Friday Agreement

Speaking in Belfast this morning in advance of tonight's meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council, Sinn Fein Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness MP said:

``Whatever the result of the Ulster Unionist Council meeting tonight, unionism has to come to terms with the reality that there will be no renegotiation of the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement is about is about is peoples basic rights and entitlements - about human rights and equality. These rights are non negotiable. They cannot be subject to a unionist veto.

``We are in this predicament because of the British government's pandering to unionism. The British government bears the greatest responsibility in this situation to ensure the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

``Unionist political leaders have to realise that the days of second class citizenship are over. Regrettably tonight's meeting is not about building a future based on partnership and inclusivity it is about the tactics to be employed by unionists to prevent change.''ENDS

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