Sinn Fein wants a meeting with the British Prime Minister to get assurances before deciding to return to the peace talks on March 9th, Mr Gerry Adams said last night.
In Limerick to campaign for his party's by-election candidate, Ms Jenny Shapland, he told journalists there were no preconditions on re-entry. The party had written to Mr Tony Blair almost two weeks ago asking for a meeting, but so far there had been no response.
Mr Adams added that he had no doubt they would be granted a meeting. 'We are very concerned about the erosion of confidence among an increasing section of nationalists about the talks and we want the British government to bring about very decisive and fundamental change,' he said.
He revealed that the Taoiseach had said there were 10 to 12 issues that had to be agreed before any final settlement comes about.
'I think it is possible to get an agreement on all of these issues if the British government has the courage to act decisively. The unionists have to come on board and have to agree.'
Asked if Mr David Trimble would return to the talks if Sinn Fein took its place at the talks, Mr Adams said the UUP leader had played that card a number of times over the last six months.
'If he does withdraw it will only be on a temporary basis. He has nowhere else to go. It's only when Mr Trimble gets into real negotiations that we are going to get a very solid basis for agreement,' he said.