Northern Irish concerns

Politics in Northern Ireland is as much a matter of numbers as words. Precision in language can make the difference between provocation and peace. But in the days ahead, it is dates and statistics which have to be faced with sensitivity. Ulster's political calendar is mined with days which require careful forethought if they are to be successfully negotiated. And the new political landscape after Thursday's election is marked by delicate balances of voting strength which have to be approached with care. If the man most likely to lead Northern Ireland into a new era, David Trimble, is to succeed, then those who have deployed charged language before must deal carefully with details of timing and tactics.

Last week's election was a dangerously close-run thing for Mr. Trimble and his Ulster Unionist Party. Although he has emerged the leader of the largest block, and the likely First Minister, there are problems aplenty ahead. The biggest looming difficulty is the Orange parade in Drumcree scheduled for this Sunday. The march itself may seem a curious relic to other citizens of the United Kingdom. But at a time of change in the life of the Province, those with a deep emotional allegiance to the Union cling all the more fiercely to these expressions of their identity.

-- The Times, London