Monitor

All the News of the World The Irish press responds to the latest developments in the peace process

THE NEW deal offers the promise of the full decommissioning of all weapons by May 2000 with incremental handovers along the way. Whether Sinn Fein and the IRA can meet this timescale and inspire trust, remains to be seen. We will never know unless they are put to the test and there is now an opportunity to to do. On balance therefore, we believe that the deal is worth a try, worth further examination and refinement but certainly should not be subject to rejection out of hand. If the IRA cannot bring themselves to make a clear and unambiguous statement of intent and do so in the next fortnight, then it is hard to see how anyone could take this deal at face value.

Belfast Telegraph

I DO not believe that republicans are less than serious about their commitments. The gun and the bomb do not have the capacity to forward by one inch the true interests of nationalism or unionism. In fact at this stage, violence has become almost entirely counter-productive.(Roy Garland)

Irish News, Belfast

APPEASEMENT OF terror is the only game in town, but it should not be forgotten that appeasement may work, and has worked so far. Sinn Fein's hints of moderation last year led to the acceptance of the new Stormont and the dropping of the Republic's territorial claim on the North. This year's hints may lead to decommissioning and, if not, a major political setback for the republican movement.

Irish Times, Dublin

MR TRIMBLE will have to tell his people that while their right to consent to join a united Ireland is recognised, it does not mean that their position in the Union is guaranteed forever. They are in the Union for so long as Britain tolerates it. To remain in means they cannot reject what the government requires of them. He will have to tell them that to find out whether the republicans are telling the truth, can only be explored by engaging in the politics offered and by having the confidence to deal with any eventuality. Trimble will have to tell his people what they don't want to hear. "Go for it. Now."

Irish Independent, Dublin