N IRELAND: BELFAST: MULTI PARTY PEACE TALKS AT STORMONT (2)

(12 Jan 1998) English/Nat The search for a Northern Ireland peace settlement continued on Monday with the resumption of multi-party talks at Stormont in east Belfast. The British and Irish governments, which co-sponsor the talks, presented a two-page plan for the eight participating parties to assess. The document sets out priorities and an agenda for the coming weeks, including proposals for constitutional change in the province. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams arrived for the Stormont talks the day after one of his relatives had been shot dead by a Protestant group opposed to the peace process. There were hopes that the new year might bring new attitudes, with attention focused on the British and Irish governments' May deadline for a settlement to be reached. But rising violence from renegade gangs on both sides and Protestant politicians' threats to withdraw from talks have sullied the negotiating environment. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I've come from his home (Terry Enwright, the murder victim) to go in here to talk to my colleagues about negotiations. Other people are still refusing to talk in that building, other political leaders are still refusing to accept the rights of other political parties, and of other citizens, and their refusal to talk has created the vacuum which has been filled by the death squads." SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein President Politicians faced that shadow of violence on Monday as they undertook to try to find a lasting settlement in the province. And there was a determination emanating from the British contingent. SOUNDBITE: (English) "In a sense all these appalling murders over the holidays that have taken place over the holiday period do concentrate the mind but what they don't do is deflect from the purpose of coming to an agreement, and that's why it's so important that all the parties who were here before Christmas, all of them are now coming back, with that determination to go ahead with business." SUPER CAPTION: Paul Murphy, Political Development Minister for Northern Ireland Office For local parties attending the talks, there is still some dissatisfaction with the handling of the process by co-sponsors of the effort, Britain and Ireland. Before the talks began Gary McMichael of the Ulster Democratic Party singled out the Irish government. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We've seen the speculation over the weekend about a possible Tony Blair initiative. We're anxious to see what the contents of that might be. But I think that in this moment in time we are dissatisfied with the attitude of the Irish government and what seems to be a lack of grasp for what is possible within this, within this process." SUPER CAPTION: Gary McMichael, Ulster Democratic Party The negotiations began in June 1996 at this centre of British administration in east Belfast, under the direction of former U-S Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. Politicians last met in December, when they could not even agree an agenda outlining subjects for discussion. This time the politicians included in the talks expressed hope that something could be achieved. Although David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Part warned against those who were not prepared to negotiate honestly. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Yes I've always been hopeful, that provided there is a will among participants, that we could achieve something. SUPER CAPTION: David Ervine, Progressive Unionist Party Those at Stormont seemed to recognise the May deadline as a goal worth trying to achieve. SOUNDBITE: (English) Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...