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Europe to examine conflict centre | Europe to examine conflict centre |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The President of the European Parliament has said the EU will examine helping to create a conflict transformation centre at the Maze. | The President of the European Parliament has said the EU will examine helping to create a conflict transformation centre at the Maze. |
Hans-Gert Pöttering discussed the idea with the first and deputy first ministers in Stormont during a visit to Northern Ireland. | Hans-Gert Pöttering discussed the idea with the first and deputy first ministers in Stormont during a visit to Northern Ireland. |
He said he would raise the matter with colleagues in the European Parliament. | He said he would raise the matter with colleagues in the European Parliament. |
"It is very useful to have a centre where you study the development of the reconciliation process," he said. | "It is very useful to have a centre where you study the development of the reconciliation process," he said. |
"We should learn from history, from the good developments, from the bad development. | "We should learn from history, from the good developments, from the bad development. |
"We should give the lessons we take from history to future generations and I would welcome the building of such a centre." | "We should give the lessons we take from history to future generations and I would welcome the building of such a centre." |
The Maze, also called Long Kesh, near Lisburn in County Antrim, was the site of Northern Ireland's highest security jail during the Troubles. | The Maze, also called Long Kesh, near Lisburn in County Antrim, was the site of Northern Ireland's highest security jail during the Troubles. |
The Maze housed thousands of paramilitary prisoners | |
It housed paramilitary inmates from across the community divide and was the backdrop for some of its major events, including the hunger strikes and a mass break-out by IRA prisoners. | It housed paramilitary inmates from across the community divide and was the backdrop for some of its major events, including the hunger strikes and a mass break-out by IRA prisoners. |
After the last inmate left, the site was given to the Northern Ireland Assembly for community use. | After the last inmate left, the site was given to the Northern Ireland Assembly for community use. |
It has been picked as a possible national stadium site, but some unionists opposed this over plans for a conflict transformation centre at the stadium. | It has been picked as a possible national stadium site, but some unionists opposed this over plans for a conflict transformation centre at the stadium. |
They have said that they do not want it to become a "shrine to terrorism". | They have said that they do not want it to become a "shrine to terrorism". |
President Pöttering arrived in Northern Ireland on Sunday and addressed members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday. | President Pöttering arrived in Northern Ireland on Sunday and addressed members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday. |
Mr Pottering said local parties were cooperating on the basis of reconciliation and European values. | |
"The European Parliament will always be part of this peace process... Which has been applied on the continent between Germany and France after the Second World War," he added. | |
Mr McGuinness said: "We had a wide-ranging discussion with him... and how we can contribute to the whole issue of conflict resolution with the establishment of the conflict resolution centre. | |
"We are hoping we will have the support from the European Parliament and the European Commission." | |
Anti-agreement unionist MEP Jim Allister said it was "clear that the DUP has caved in to Sinn Fein's key demand over the Maze shrine". | |
"This conflict transformation centre will indeed be a site for the glorification of terrorism, particularly of the suicide hunger strikers, and the rewriting of history at which republicanism excels," he said. |