Ford disappointed by Joint Communiqué

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Jul 2003

Alliance Leader David Ford has expressed his disappointment that the Prime Minister and Taoiseach did not give a clear message that their governments were working on a coherent plan to restore the political institutions or facilitate elections in the autumn.

Mr Ford said: "Northern Ireland is in the wilderness. The public is wondering how and when devolution can be reintroduced. There is a real danger that people will lose faith in the political process.

"While Alliance can welcome some progress on policing, criminal justice and victims, there is nothing in today's Joint Communiqué to suggest that the two governments have a coherent plan to restore the political institutions or facilitate elections in the autumn.

"Furthermore, Alliance began lobbying for the introduction of a monitoring body to shine a spotlight on the illegal activities of the paramilitaries a year ago this week. John Reid publicly stated that the Government accepted this proposal last September.

"Given the continued activity of certain groups, I am disappointed and surprised that today the governments could not announce more movement on the creation of this body."