Drumcree must not cast a shadow over the brighter future beckoning

THIS weekend the eyes of the world are fixed firmly once more on Northern Ireland.

For months now the world has witnessed - even marvelled at - the stream of positive images flowing from here:

The dedication, leadership and willingness to compromise that produced the Good Friday Agreement;

The overwhelming desire for a different future shown by the electorate in the referendum and the Assembly elections;

And the dignified display by local politicians, starting to get down to the business of running their own affairs in an Assembly that could become the model for new politics in divided societies.

It is a picture that has attracted international businesses to view Northern Ireland as a stable base for their investment and encourage visitors from home and overseas to put Northern Ireland on their holiday map.

Both offer the real promise of thousands of new jobs for our young people.

But in just one weekend there is a terrible potential for that positive impression to be wiped out by scenes of violence and disorder on the streets.

Let me stress that I am fully aware of the hurt that the Parades Commission decision to ban the Orange Order from marching down the Garvaghy Road has caused to some people.

I regret that - despite all the efforts of Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Irish Premier Bertie Ahern, President Clinton, Northern Ireland's new leader David Trimble, his deputy Seamus Mallon, church leaders and others, an accommodation could not be reached.

Commission chairman Alistair Graham said that being forced to make a ruling on Drumcree was a sign of failure. I agree.

But in the absence of accommodation, a decision has to be taken. I fully support the Commission and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the police as they go about the difficult task of enforcing the rule of law.

The RUC are the ones caught in the middle of this and they deserve everyone's support at this difficult time. No ifs, no buts. In a civilised society we must uphold the law. Responsible citizens cannot pick and choose the laws the obey, for that is the route that leads to anarchy.

Accommodation will always be our Number One option, but if it cannot be found then the only legal course of action is to abide by the decision of the Parades Commission.

I have kept in constant touch with the Chief Constable Ronnie Flannagan since the Commission decision at the beginning of the week, and, believe me, I fully realise the implications of the situation - and the potential for violence.

There are sinister elements at work exploiting the understandable concerns shared by people on both sides. But they cannot be allowed to undo all the good work of recent months.

The head of the Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland, John Dixon, delivered a powerful message yesterday as he urged Orangemen to respect the law of the land.

He said: "I want to urge all people to keep their eye on the goal, on the larger picture.

"We want to encourage folk in this week, when previously sworn enemies have sat in the same room, to remember that by God's grace people can and do change."

Archbishop Robin Eames himself urged both sides to realise "that what's hanging on an accommodation is much more than a question of a march after a church service".

The people of Northern Ireland voted for peace very recently in the Good Friday Agreement - and we mustn't allow something like Drumcree to jeopardise that. Archbishop Eames said: "Keep calm, try and draw breath and take the longer view that we have to plan for the future of children and of our children's children. If we ever lose sight of that we're in real trouble."

As the words of Archbishop Eames and Dr Dixon emphasise, we have come very far in Northern Ireland in the last few months - so far that we cannot go back now.

Violence at Drumcree not only threatens the new politics developing in Northern Ireland. It will also have untold financial costs.

In 1996, disorder over Drumcree cost pounds 20 million in compensation and security. Last year it cost pounds 10 million.

Think how pounds 30 million could be better spent - on hospitals, schools, better transport, promoting business and creating jobs. And that pounds 30 million does not include the cost of lost business as staff were stopped from getting into work and orders were not delivered.

Just consider the long-term cost of more disorder over Drumcree in 1998. This is the very moment when international companies are looking closely at Northern Ireland for future investment.

Economy Minister Adam Ingram has spent much of the past 12 months touring the world, highlighting Northern Ireland's attractions to business leaders.

Just a month ago US Commerce Secretary William Daley brought a top- level business delegation here to view the political progress. We risk appalling them...at the very moment that we have their attention.

And add up the cost to tourism. Disorder in July at the very height of the holiday season, shown on TV screens throughout the world, discourages thousands from taking holidays or holding conferences here.

Yet with increased tourism Northern Ireland has the potential to create at least another 4,000 jobs by the year 2001.

Northern Ireland has gained so much, it cannot afford to go back to the old days at the very time when a better future beckons.

Drumcree must not be allowed to cast a shadow over the brighter future beckoning for the people.

We do not want violence on our streets - a confrontation in which all sides will be losers.

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