In one way, Northern Ire-land's peace process is at a familiar stage. The powers that will determine the province's future-the governments of Britain and Ireland and Northern Ireland's main political parties-are on the brink of a deal. These talks, like so many previous ones, have faltered on the matter of how unionists can be sure that the IRA has given up its arms. Unionists want photographic evidence that the IRA has handed in its weapons. The IRA regards that as public humiliation (so do the unionists, which is why they want it). Television reporters appear every night in front of closed doors behind which they say last-minute talks are continuing. Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, Ireland's prime minister, make optimistic announcements and the province's politicians then undermine them.
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