Reynolds moves to reassure Sinn Fein

IN HIS MOST conciliatory speech to date in pursuit of an IRA ceasefire, Albert Reynolds, the Taoiseach, yesterday went out of his way to reassure republicans that the Downing Street Declaration opened the way to a demilitarisation of all forces in Northern Ireland, including the British Army.

The Irish Prime Minister quoted from comments made by Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, last week. He said he 'broadly agreed' with Mr Adams's view that 'we need to bring about the removal of the gun from Irish politics, in a way that no other Irish person, loyalist or republican, in the absence of British soldiers, ever seeks again or feels the need to resort to physical force or to violent actions'.

Aiming to close the gap with republicans, Mr Reynolds added: 'That, in a nutshell, is the aim of the joint declaration.' He said the nationalist community stood to suffer most and lose ground if the violence continued.

Detailing the clarifications he had given in his lengthy letter to Mr Adams, the Taoiseach said that once violence ended, a peace forum for all Irish parties, including Sinn Fein, would be set up 'as soon as possible'. In addition, the process of demilitarisation would begin.

His clarifications to Sinn Fein had, he said, 'disposed of' many of the contradictions Sinn Fein had alleged existed between the accounts of the two governments. 'John Major never said 'no' to a united Ireland, only to a united Ireland without majority consent,' Mr Reynolds insisted.

He indicated Dublin had no faith in the plan floated by Patrick Mayhew, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for an early resumption of inter-party talks, regardless of Sinn Fein. Mr Mayhew yesterday confirmed he would make new proposals for political progress in the province within two weeks.

Mr Reynolds said the declaration's central issue was 'peace first, negotiations afterwards'.

Mr Reynolds' address to the Irish Council of the European Movement, which yesterday jointly awarded him and John Hume, the SDLP leader, with its European of the Year award for their peace efforts, suggests he believes a positive Sinn Fein and IRA response is now within the bounds of possibility.

The Irish government confirmed last night that proposals from Britain about the resumption of inter- party talks had been received in Dublin. A spokesman said the document would be studied and responded to in due course.