Any democrat would subscribe to joint New Year message: Londonderry unionists

DUP Alderman Gregory Campbell said the joint statement was a positive start to 2011 and he hoped its spirit would prevail long after its ink had dried.

He said it was an opportunity to begin the year on a positive note after the notable disappointment of the Claudy bomb victims at the lack of closure provided by the report into the atrocity which was published in August.

He also said the spirit of the statement hopefully precludes any return to the type of division caused by Derry City Council's abortive petition to have the city's name changed from "Londonderry" to "Derry."

The DUP representative said it was a statement that he would have been happy to sign in 1990 had it been presented to him.

Said Mr Campbell: "I think the statement is one most democrats could sign up to at any stage and hopefully would. It's really an anti-violence message that I could have signed up to last year or twenty years ago."

He added: "Some of the others were placing it in the context of the dissident activity, which included two car bombs in the city, and which was, of course, a powerful context."

Mr Campbell said it was an opportunity to make a positive start to 2011 following disappointment for the Claudy bomb families who were left with more questions than answers after the publication of the Police Ombudsman's report into the atrocity in August.

He said: "Last year was also not a good year for the families of the Claudy bomb who did not get the same attention as the Bloody Sunday families."

Despite the Claudy report setback, Mr Campbell said the joint New Year message was at least a positve step in the right direction.

He said: "So the joint statement was a way of getting 2011 off to a positive start. Hopefully, the spirit of the statement will prevail long after the ink is dry. It's a step forward."

UUP Alderman Mary Hamilton said the message provided a morale boost to the PSNI in their work combating the dissident threat.

She said all the signatories and all the citizens of Londonderry should rally behind the police.

"I want all the people in the city to be united behind the police," said Mrs Hamilton. "When the dissidents cause widespread disruption in the city and the police have to put up roadblocks people should not be complaining about the police.

"It's the dissidents who are causing the disruption. Everyone, in future, should rally behind the PSNI and support them," she said.

The New Year message was approved by all four main political parties here with the DUP, UUP, Sinn Fin and the SDLP all backing the call.

The Alliance Party also supported the initiative.

At a recent meeting in Stormont representatives from each of the parties affirmed their commitment to a unity of purpose to develop the city and region to its fullest potential.

Amongst those supporting the appeal were Gregory Campbell and William Hay of the DUP and Mary Hamilton and Willam Lamrock of the UUP.

In the joint statement released on Sunday they pledged: "In this new year of 2011 we as political representatives in this city will work towards a positive future for the shared interests, hopes and aspirations of the people of this our city.

"We will work with others to build a civic leadership that shifts us away from the divisions of the past towards a new era of, co-operation, mutual respect, hope and prosperity for all future generations.

"As part of this joint approach we will work collectively to address the needs of those most socially disadvantaged and suffering poverty within our city and region.

"As the political leaders of the city we see a future where there is a role for everyone who wants to make a positive contribution to making this a better place."

They went on to issue a direct appeal to the violent republicans who were responsible for a spate of bombing and shooting attacks in Londonderry in 2010.

"We are making a genuine and heartfelt appeal to those who use or support the use of violence to put away your weapons and join with us in making this a better city for all," the statement reads.

"This is not to oppose people's right to pursue different and diverse political goals however such goals must be achieved by peaceful and democratic means.

"Any attack against any part of the city and region or against any person or people in or of the area is an attack against the interests of everyone and against the future wellbeing of this City and its people.

"Irrespective of political differences, 2011 will be the year we commit to working together towards a new era of hope and prosperity for the future.

"We invite every citizen to work with us to create the conditions for a shared city life in this culturally vibrant city.

"May we take this opportunity to wish all people from all backgrounds, cultures and faiths a very happy and peaceful 2011," they concluded.

Also amongst the signatories were Martina Anderson, Mark Durkan, Pat Ramsey, Raymond Mc Cartney, Pl Callaghan and Colm Cavanagh