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19 April 1996
Forum and Elections a distraction says Adams
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams speaking in Dublin this morning pointed out that ``there is widespread apprehension among Nationalists in the six counties that the proposed Unionist Forum at Stormont and the accompanying elections are a deliberate contrivance by the British, as part of a Unionist agenda, to distract from the urgent need for the commencement of a proper process of inclusive negotiations.
Mr.Adams said:
``The truth is that if there is merit in rejecting the Stormont Forum, and there is, and if the elective process will not alter party mandates but will fulfil Unionist objectives as Mr. Paisley and Mr. Trimble and others seek to turn the clock back to 1912, then surely the SDLP and Sinn Fein should simply ignore the election and the Forum altogether?
The full text of Mr.Adams remarks:
``There is widespread apprehension among Nationalists in the six counties that the proposed Unionist Forum at Stormont and the accompanying elections are a deliberate contrivance by the British, as part of a Unionist agenda, to distract from the urgent need for the commencement of a proper process of inclusive negotiations.
``Many Nationalists and Republicans have noted with interest the SDLP's opposition to the proposal for a Unionist Forum.
``It is clear that the Forum, if it is established, is a significant concession to Unionists. They will have achieved one of their primary objectives even before one word of negotiation has been uttered and on the back of their persistent opposition to proper negotiation throughout the process.
``Sinn Fein believes that the elective process has no real constructive role to play in bringing about arrangements which can facilitate a peace settlement.
``The SDLP's view of the elective process is that its only value will be if leads directly to all party talks.
``The truth is that if there is merit in rejecting the Stormont Forum, and there is, and if the elective process will not alter party mandates but will fulfil Unionist objectives as Mr. Paisley and Mr. Trimble and others seek to turn the clock back to 1912, then surely the SDLP and Sinn Fein should simply ignore the election and the Forum altogether?
``In that event, without Nationalist participation in either the Forum or elective process, both governments, but particularly the British government which has erected these obstacles to process, would have to create a new and more constructive avenue to all party talks.''
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