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18th January 1999
Garvaghy siege another attack on Agreement
Statement from Sinn Fein Assembly member for the Upper Bann Dr. Dara O'Hagan on the decision of the Orange Order to refuse to engage in future proximity dialogue to attempt to resolve the siege of the Garvaghy Road.
Dr. O'Hagan said:
``The decision of the Orange Order to refuse to engage in future dialogue comes as no surprise. They approached the proximity talks in a begrudging manner. Their failure to lift the siege of the Garvaghy Road to help facilitate the talks underlined this. The leadership of the Orange Order knows that the situation in Portadown can only be resolved through direct dialogue with the representatives of the residents.
``It is increasingly obvious that the `No' Camp within Unionism and the Orange Order see the siege at the Garvaghy road as another front in its battle to unravel the Good Friday Agreement. Denis Watson and others within the leadership of the Orange Order opposed to the Agreement are using their refusal to lift the ongoing siege and engage in positive dialogue with the representatives of the residents.
``The assurance of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair that he will uphold the parades commission ruling concerning the Drumcree March is the first stage in opposing the latest attack on the Good Friday Agreement .''
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