The old tired hackneyed leaders epitomised by Paisley refuse to accept that the traumatic

The old tired hackneyed leaders, epitomised by Paisley, refuse to accept that the traumatic path the Republicans have traversed since ceasefire is at all important.Yet David Trimble knows that when such political risk is taken it must be met by a reciprocal approach. He wants to do exactly that, by affording full legitimacy to Sinn Fein. He knows that to retain all the benefits achieved at their current value, he must now complete the deal.He might yet fail. Mr Trimble will no doubt ensure that in the next few days his party colleagues understand the full implications of running away from this chance. In the past, our forte as Unionists has been to retreat, morality at our vanguard, only to return to a situation less conducive to our needs.Today change is our friend, not our enemy That, I believe, is the view of David Trimble I know it is the view of Government. The existing bitterness in Northern Ireland must be addressed if we are to take our place in the new millennium That change will have to be managed In a divided society, it must be managed by both sides.

Emotionally difficult as that may be, there is no other rational way.If we retreat from agreement again, as usual the Government will pick up the pieces. Those who wish to wallow in the sectarian past – or are too frightened not to – should remember that governments do not have friends or pet projects. They have only interests – even Tory governments which the “no” camp naively think are more sympathetic. Well, perhaps in opposition they are.The new world order, especially among politicians of the age of Blair, Ahern and Clinton, is to heal relationships. The healing has begun between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Their European interests will dictate that they continue. Almost all of the past bitterness between them has been focused upon Northern Ireland.

It is rational to the governments – and enough to send the Unionist tradition apoplectic – that much of the future healing process between two sovereign nations will also be through the territory which has in the past generated so much difficulty.Clever Unionists know that now is the time to move, and in doing so have a part in the game. Fools will, if they have their way, wake up to a situation where they’ve lost the game simply because they wouldn’t play. Of course, they have a fallback position – to shout betrayal, in the old familiar bellicose-style That’s the bit they’re really good at. In the next few days we will know which direction the path is for the people of Northern Ireland.