Irish-Americans
Hopeful
About April 9th
Deadline
Washington, D.C., March 31, 1998 -- Now that Senator George
Mitchell, Northern Ireland Talks Chairman, has set April 9, 1998, as the
deadline for a settlement Irish-Americans are hopeful it can be reached.
"Despite the obvious difficulties, I am hopeful an honorable
settlement can be achieved," said Fr. Sean McManus, President of
the Irish National Caucus, the Capitol Hill-based Irish lobby.
"Obviously nobody is going to get 100% of what he wants --
not Gerry Adams and not David Trimble."
"Irish-Americans have a special duty and obligation to make
it clear that they have absolutely no sympathy for the INLA and the
Continuity IRA. Those two groups -- or any group violently opposed to the
peace-process -- must not be given any encouragement or support."
"Thirty years ago people had no idea how long or how
terrible the Troubles would be. But
now we know exactly how bad things will be if we descend back to the
abyss of violence. We must
never let that happen," he concluded.
