Britain's Prime Minister Opens Door to Talks with Sinn Fein

In a significant move, British Prime Minister John Major has announced that his government assumes the seven-week-old IRA cease-fire is permanent, despite the IRA never formally characterizing it as such. This development opens the door to potential talks between Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, and the British government. Major's statement comes after a visit to Belfast, where he also announced the lifting of orders excluding Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness from Great Britain and the goal of replacing British soldiers with a civilian police force in Ulster.

Key Takeaways:

• The British government's assumption of a permanent IRA cease-fire is a significant development, potentially paving the way for talks between Sinn Fein and the government.
• John Major has stated that his government believes the IRA's actions are more compelling than their words, and that they will move forward with the assumption that the cease-fire is permanent.
• The government has lifted orders excluding Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness from Great Britain, allowing them to travel freely within the United Kingdom as long as they remain committed to the democratic process.
• Major's goal is to remove British soldiers from the streets of Ulster and replace them with a civilian police force.
• Protestant Unionists are divided on the issue, with some criticizing Major for not sticking to his principles and others welcoming the development.
• Sinn Fein's official newspaper, An Phoblacht, has described the cease-fire as a "suspension of the arms struggle," which contradicts the British government's assumption of a permanent cease-fire.

Statistics:

• Seven weeks: The length of time the IRA cease-fire has been in effect.
• 25 years: The duration of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.
• Three months: The timeframe within which Sinn Fein is promised a place at the negotiating table under the terms of the Downing Street Declaration.
• 25% at least: The percentage of Protestant Unionists who blasted Major's decision for not sticking to his principles, according to Peter Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist party.

Sources:

• NPR's Andy Bowers
• John Major, speech to Belfast business leaders
• The Downing Street Declaration
• An Phoblacht, Sinn Fein's official newspaper