Northern Irish leaders create direct link to EU
LEIGH PHILLIPS
11.01.2008 @ 09:15 CET
Northern Irish first minister Rev. Ian Paisley and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness visited Brussels for the first time Thursday (10 January) for talks with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.
After the talks, the leaders stressed their support for the European Union, with Paisley noting the €2.5 billion his province had received from the EU, compared to the €1.1 billion Northern Ireland is receiving between 2007 and 2013 from Westminster.
"We have to accept that for many years much of our relations with the European Union was through the British government," said Mr McGuinness.
The leaders used the occasion to announce the creation of a "one-stop shop" for direct discussions between Northern Irish officials and the EU, rather than via the UK.
Meanwhile, Mr Barroso highlighted the peaceful resolution of the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland as a model for conflict zones around the world.
Mr McGuinness also stressed that there was no contradiction between his visit to the EU headquarters and the leading role his party, Sinn Fein, is playing in opposition to the Lisbon Treaty ahead of the upcoming referendum in the Republic of Ireland.
Both Mr McGuinness and Mr Paisley were united in calling on the British government to hold a referendum on the treaty.
But despite the good will shown throughout the press conference, the Northern Irish leaders could not be persuaded to shake hands.
Upon the prompting of an Irish Times journalist that they do so, Mr Paisley refused, saying: "I'm sick and tired of people shaking hands and then going out and cutting each others' throats. It is far better for us to behave in decency with people . . . and prove our sincerity."
Despite sharing the leadership of the Northern Ireland government, the unionist Mr Paisley and the republican Mr McGuinness have yet to shake hands in public.