Fundamentalism or democracy - you decide

3.13.11pm GMT Tue 21st Feb 2006

The Alliance Party's youth wing has said that Northern Ireland's oliticians now face a straight choice between fundamentalism and democracy, as the latest round of talks ended in acrimony.

Youth wing Chair Cllr Ian James Parsley, who attended the first round of talks with the Secretary of State and Irish Foreign Minister, stated: "Young Alliance has long said that it is time for an entirely fresh approach. Yet only the Alliance Party is willing to meet that challenge.

"Northern Ireland's sectarian political hangover is destroying the process. This is not about stand-offs that deliver political control to one set of fundamentalists or another, it is about democratic consensus that gives political control to the people of Northern Ireland.

"It is democratic to come up with proposals for progress, not reasons for stalling. It is democratic to reform institutions that don't work, not ignore reality. It is democratic to seek stability, not endless 'processes'.

"Fundamentalism is about adhering to a base position no matter what. Democracy is about principled consensus politics. It is time for the participants in the process to be honest about just how 'democratic' they are."