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Nesbitt pulls out of SF conference in protest at O'Dowd remarks Nesbitt pulls out of SF conference in protest at O'Dowd remarks
(about 1 hour later)
The Ulster Unionist leader says he is pulling out of a conference organised by Sinn Fein in protest at remarks by one of the party's executive ministers. The Ulster Unionist leader says he is pulling out of a conference organised by Sinn Fein in protest at remarks by one of its ministers, John O'Dowd.
Mike Nesbitt says he had agreed to give a keynote address at the event, City of Equals in an Island of Equals. Mike Nesbitt had agreed to speak at the event next month but changed his mind after Mr O'Dowd dismissed complaints from the UUP, SDLP and Alliance.
But he has changed his mind after John O'Dowd dismissed complaints from the UUP, SDLP and Alliance that they had been kept in the dark about a shared future initiative by saying "so what". They complained they had been kept in the dark about a shared future plan, to which Mr O'Dowd responded: "So what?".
The conference is in Belfast on 7 June. However, Mr O'Dowd has since said he had not meant to insult other parties.
The shared future proposals were launched on Thursday by the first and deputy first ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness. The Sinn Fein education minister said he made the comment during an "ill-tempered" TV debate and has appealed to Mr Nesbitt to reconsider his decision to pull out of the conference.
But the education minister's comment led to a row on BBC One's The View programme later that evening. The City of Equals in an Island of Equals conference is due to take place in Belfast on 7 June.
Now Mr Nesbitt, who described the situation as "a disaster", says he will withdraw from the conference in the Europa hotel unless Sinn Fein distances itself from the remarks. The shared future proposals - aimed at ending sectarianism and promoting better community relations in Northern Ireland - were launched on Thursday by the first and deputy first ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.
But the education minister's "so what?" comment led to a row on BBC One's The View programme later that evening.
On Friday, Mr Nesbitt, who described the situation as "a disaster", said he would withdraw from the conference in the Europa hotel unless Sinn Fein distances itself from the remarks.
'Damage is done''Damage is done'
He told the BBC: "I'd given a provisional 'yes' to giving a keynote address at a conference on the future of Belfast organised by Sinn Fein and I was looking positively at that.He told the BBC: "I'd given a provisional 'yes' to giving a keynote address at a conference on the future of Belfast organised by Sinn Fein and I was looking positively at that.
"But given the remarks by John O'Dowd, the 'so what' which tells you all you need to know about what he, at least, thinks about the Ulster Unionist Party and the other two (parties) which are not at the centre of government, unless that's fixed, the damage is done."But given the remarks by John O'Dowd, the 'so what' which tells you all you need to know about what he, at least, thinks about the Ulster Unionist Party and the other two (parties) which are not at the centre of government, unless that's fixed, the damage is done.
"I can't fix it. Unless it's fixed I can see no way that I can participate in the Sinn Fein event at this stage given those remarks.""I can't fix it. Unless it's fixed I can see no way that I can participate in the Sinn Fein event at this stage given those remarks."
Mr Nesbitt informed party members of his decision by email on Friday afternoon.Mr Nesbitt informed party members of his decision by email on Friday afternoon.
He told them his decision to take part in the conference had been "influenced by the need to demonstrate a willingness to build a shared future, and my determination to ensure our views are not lost".He told them his decision to take part in the conference had been "influenced by the need to demonstrate a willingness to build a shared future, and my determination to ensure our views are not lost".