JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The Northern Ireland peace process faces a crucial test next week. Britain has vowed to suspend the province's new Protestant-Catholic government if the Republican Army does not move to disarm. Here's CNN's Nic Robertson.</s>NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is a taste of what's ahead: political statements like this small demonstration designed to highlight negotiating positions and not move them forward and carefully crafted arguments to back up long-held views on disarmament.</s>GERRY ADAMS, SINN FEIN LEADER: I have said it clearly time and time again that I am wedded to resolving it as part of this process, and I see it as a necessary part of this overall peace process.</s>ROBERTSON: The anger and frustration expressed indicates just how desperate these times are. But in this time of crisis, it's the well-tried words that are shoring up the deeply entrenched views.</s>REG EMPEY, ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY: The fact is that these weapons pose a threat. Don't forget the people who are the political representatives of the IRA are government minister here in Belfast.</s>ROBERTSON: Also to be expected in coming days, appeals to all sides about what is at stake.</s>PETER MANDELSON, BRITISH NORTHERN IRELAND SECRETARY: Just imagine it, another 30 years before we have this chance again: 30 more years of sectarian division, 30 years of direct rule, 30 years of high unemployment, low investment.</s>ROBERTSON: Today's crisis was last fall's success when peace talks chairman George Mitchell fostered a trust that got parties beyond their differences and into agreement. (on camera) But that new found trust seems to be lost, replaced by a rush for rhetoric that has retreated to the same old defensive lines that in the past have stymied any movement on the disarmament debate. Nic Robertson, CNN, Stormont, Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Peace Process Faces Crucial Disarmament Test