Mr Tony Blair still believes he can secure a deal on IRA "acts of completion" and an Ulster Unionist commitment to resume power-sharing after next month's Assembly election, writes London Editor Frank Millar.
This was made clear last night despite Mr David Trimble's insistence that the UUP would not "acquiesce in the lifting of the suspension" of the Stormont Assembly and his warning that his party would refuse to nominate or support candidates for the offices of First and Deputy First Minister as a precursor to the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Executive.
Mr Trimble's strong language appeared to foreclose on the possibility of a successful outcome to the present negotiation over the future intentions of the IRA, at least this side of the Assembly poll scheduled for May 29th.
However, British sources confirmed they did not consider this Mr Trimble's "last word" on the matter as the Prime Minister maintained pressure on the IRA to confirm its intention to bring about "a complete and total end" to all its paramilitary activities.
If Downing Street's assessment is correct, this would seem to pre-suppose the possibility of a meeting of Mr Trimble's ruling Ulster Unionist Council in the middle of an election campaign, nominations for which open on Friday. Sources close to Mr Trimble and leading anti-agreement dissidents appear agreed this would not be possible in the timescale available. There is also speculation that, even if Mr Trimble decided to accept the final terms of any IRA offer as a basis for resuming government with Sinn Féin, his party officers might refuse to call a meeting of the UUC at this stage.
However, while refusing to be drawn on "the mechanics" of effecting any last-gasp political agreement, the British sources told The Irish Times Mr Blair's purpose remained to secure an "acts of completion" deal sufficient to allow the successful restoration of devolution before polling day.
Asked if any breakthrough achieved now might require a further temporary delay in the election date, the sources replied: "Our focus is on getting the substance right. If we do that, then we can deal with the mechanics."
At his Downing Street press conference yesterday, Mr Blair maintained the position that "the election date is set" and that it was obviously desirable that it should take place in a "positive" atmosphere.
He sidestepped a question about a possible "parting of the ways" with Mr Trimble over their differing responses to Mr Gerry Adams's latest clarification of the IRA's thinking. He said that while Mr Trimble was "right in saying we don't yet have the basis that we need" there had been "some progress" in Mr Adams's answers to two of the three questions he [Mr Blair\] had posed in the bid for clarity about the IRA's future intentions.
Mr Blair declared himself satisfied that the IRA intended to put all weapons beyond use, and that it was the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement rather than a united Ireland which would spell the end of the conflict.
However, the third issue had not yet been resolved and remained absolutely crucial, he said. "Is there going to be an end to all the paramilitary activity of the sort that gave rise to the very problems we have? Is there going to be a complete and total end to all that paramilitary activity? That is what we need to know from the heart of the IRA because if they are going to carry on with that type of activity, then there is no basis for progress."