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November 16, 1999
Web posted at: 2:25 p.m. EST (1925 GMT)

In this story: Sinn Fein renounces violence Convincing the Unionists may prove difficult RELATED STORIES, SITES

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (CNN) -- A lasting peace in Northern Ireland seemed a little closer Tuesday when leaders of the province's two main rival parties issued conciliatory statements on the contentious issue of disarmament.

The statements from the Catholic Sinn Fein and the Protestant Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) came after 11 grueling days of negotiations mediated by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell.

AUDIO Click here to listen to Trimble's speech Part 1 -- 1.2 MB/ 2 min. AIFF or WAV sound Part 2 -- 1.3 MB/ 2 min. AIFF or WAV sound

The statements are expected to clear significant obstacles to the creation of a four-party administration to govern the British province, as called for in the Good Friday accord of 1998.

"We now have a chance to create a genuine partnership between unionists and nationalists in a novel form of government," said UUP leader David Trimble, Northern Ireland's prime minister-in-waiting.

Trimble had staunchly opposed the inclusion of Sinn Fein in that government until the outlawed Irish Republican Army (IRA) -- which the Unionists believe is closely connected with Sinn Fein -- agrees to disarm.

But on Tuesday, Trimble said that "a genuine and meaningful response" to Monday's call from Northern Ireland's Canadian-led disarmament commission for the IRA to appoint a representative to the commission would clear the way for the establishment of the government.

The IRA is expected to release a policy statement on Wednesday or Thursday, appointing a representative to Canadian army Gen. John de Chastelain's commission.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams

For its part, Sinn Fein issued a statement renouncing violence as a viable tool in striving toward peace in Northern Ireland.

"Sinn Fein has a total and absolute commitment to pursue our objectives by exclusively peaceful and democratic means in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement," the Catholic party's statement read. "For this reason we are totally opposed to any use of force or threat of force by others for any political purpose."

"There is no doubt," Sinn Fein said, "that we are entering into the final stages of the resolution of the conflict."

The creation of the Northern Ireland administration would provide "an effective political alternative" to the violence of the past, the party said, making the conflict "for all of us now a thing of the past, over, done with and gone."

Sinn Fein, the statement said, is committed "to removing the gun forever from the politics of our country."

The Good Friday accord calls for complete disarmament of the IRA and outlawed loyalist groups by May 2000.

Despite the hope engendered by Tuesday's dual statements, Trimble faces the daunting task of convincing the membership of his party to support the deal. Some UUP members vehemently oppose any softening of the pressure on the IRA and Sinn Fein.

"You don't corrupt the democratic process in the hopes that terrorists might toe the line," said Peter Robinson of the Democratic Unionist Party. "To get into this club, you have to accept the rules of the club. You give up your weaponry, you accept democratic and peaceful means -- and that entitles you to be part of the democratic process."

John Hume, leader of the moderate Catholic Social Democratic and Labor party, said there was no reason not to continue the progress begun by the Good Friday accord, which he said is "firmly based on our party's fundamental values."

"As a new century approaches, the agreement offers us all the chance to transcend our past, to leave behind division and conflict once and for all," he said. "It has the capacity to transform relationships within Northern Ireland, throughout Ireland and between the peoples of these islands."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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