Gerry Adams Plans White House Visit Amid Diplomatic Tensions Over Sinn Fein's Role in Northern Ireland Peace Talks

Strategic Insights -

Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, plans to visit President Bill Clinton at the White House within the next fortnight, sparking a diplomatic headache over whether the US government should deny him a visa if his party is expelled from the Northern Ireland peace talks. The move has raised concerns among British officials that Adams' visit could be a political coup, allowing him to strengthen his position in the talks and potentially undermine the process. If Sinn Fein is thrown out of the talks, it could be readmitted if the IRA does not resume its killings before mid-March, creating a complex situation for Blair and Clinton to navigate.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sinn Fein, linked to the IRA, is likely to be expelled from the Northern Ireland peace talks following evidence of IRA involvement in two killings last week.
  • Gerry Adams plans to visit President Clinton at the White House within the next fortnight, sparking a diplomatic headache over the US government's response.
  • The British government must decide whether to encourage or discourage Adams' trip, with options including granting him a visa, encouraging him to visit without a meeting with Clinton, or refusing him entry to the US.
  • If Adams is denied entry to the US, it could be seen as a test of the "special relationship" between Blair and Clinton.
  • Adams has said that Sinn Fein will "exhaust every avenue" to remain at the talks, and the party is seeking to put pressure on Britain and Unionists to meet its demands.
  • The IRA ceasefire is crucial to Sinn Fein's participation in the talks, and any resumption of violence could lead to the party's exclusion.
  • The Sinn Fein national executive met in Dublin to discuss the party's likely exclusion from the talks.

Statistics:

  • Sinn Fein has been linked to two killings on February 13, according to RUC evidence cited in the article (1).
  • The IRA ceasefire has been in place since 1995, with a significant impact on the peace process (1).
  • Three men were charged with the murder of Robert Dougan on February 23 (1).
  • The Northern Ireland peace talks are expected to conclude soon, with Sinn Fein's participation hanging in the balance (1).

Sources:

  • The Sunday Times, "Gerry Adams Plans White House Visit Amid Diplomatic Tensions Over Sinn Fein's Role in Northern Ireland Peace Talks" (2).
  • Irish Voice magazine, article by Gerry Adams (3).
  • Niall O'Dowd, publisher of Irish Voice, and Gerry Adams' adviser (4).
  • Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998 (5).
  • Matthew Campbell, Additional reporting in Washington (6).