17th April 2003

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Seize the opportunity - Publish the Declaration

Sinn Fein Vice President Pat Doherty MP said ``I am calling on the Irish and British governments to seize the opportunity, show real leadership and implement the Agreement in full.'' Mr. Doherty said:

``Last night's meeting of the Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle was briefed on latest developments and this morning contact with the two governments is continuing to try and secure the publication of the Joint Declaration and the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

``We should not lose sight of the fact that five years after the people voted for this Agreement, we are still discusing how it is to be implemented. These are basic democratic rights that are taken for granted in other societies and include: human rights, equality and policing and criminal justice.

``It is incredible that anyone can seriously suggest that funding for the Irish language, human rights or an end to discrimination is to be dependent on the agreement of anti Agreement unionists who oppose equality and have tried to wreck this process from the very start.

``On the otherhand the IRA has made a clear and unambigious declaration of its intentions. The two governments have acknowledged the IRA's desire to see the peace process work.

``We now have an unprecedented opportunity to really move the situation forward. I am calling on the Irish and British governments to seize the opportunity, show real leadership and implement the Agreement in full.''ENDS

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