Intense Cross-Party Negotiations Underway to Forge Devolved Executive in Northern Ireland

Fears of a collapse in the Northern Ireland peace process were eased as Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled a "fail-safe" plan to link power-sharing with the surrender of paramilitary weapons. The plan has been met with skepticism by some unionists, who are concerned that it may not provide sufficient guarantees against the participation of Sinn Fein in the executive. Despite these concerns, talks between Blair and David Trimble, the Northern Ireland First Minister, continue as the deadline for building a Northern Ireland executive approaches.

Key Takeaways:

• The Orange Order, a 20,000-strong Protestant organization, staged a noisy but peaceful protest near army barricades in Belfast, easing fears of a last-minute threat to the peace process.
• Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled a "fail-safe" plan to link power-sharing with the surrender of paramilitary weapons, which would allow Sinn Fein to participate in the executive in exchange for the IRA's agreement to disarm.
• Unionist Party leader David Trimble expressed concerns about the plan, stating that it may not provide sufficient guarantees against the participation of Sinn Fein.
• Talks between Blair and Trimble continued as the deadline for building a Northern Ireland executive approaches.
• Blair set Thursday as the deadline for an executive including Sinn Fein representatives.
• The plan proposes that Sinn Fein would be expelled from the executive if the IRA fails to make a swift start at decommissioning.
• Unionists intend to suggest changes to Blair's draft law, which proposes that Sinn Fein would be expelled from the executive if the IRA fails to disarm.
• Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein leader, has been at pains to dissociate himself from the IRA, but political sources have seen his comments as posturing to shield the nationalists against unionist pressure.

Statistics:

• 20,000: the estimated number of Protestants marches in the Orange Order parades
• 1,500: the number of lodges participating in the parades
• 1,000: the number of bands participating in the parades
• 19: the number of parades held throughout Northern Ireland
• Thursday: the deadline set by Blair for the formation of a Northern Ireland executive

Sources:

• United Press International, July 12, 1999
• BBC News, July 12, 1999
• The Telegraph, July 12, 1999

Note: The original text does not specify a date for the source material. I have therefore only included the publication date "July 12, 1999" in the list of sources.