THE British and Irish governments and multi-party talks chairman Senator George Mitchell have warned that the negotiations face possible collapse if there is no movement by next Monday, according to talks sources.
As the process entered its seventh week at Stormont yesterday without any agreement on rules and procedures, Mr Mitchell and the two governments impressed upon the parties the necessity to move to substantive talks.
"It was made clear that the talks can't remain on a life support machine for ever if the talks are not making progress", said an Irish Government source last night.
Mr Mitchell, the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, and the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, urged all the parties to agree rules and procedures so that plenary session could take place next Monday before next week's scheduled summer recess.
Mr Mitchell, according to the Government source, made it clear the public "must see some evidence of progress, otherwise they will conclude that the talks are going nowhere. If it is impossible to make progress, then that must be noted."
But more positively, the source added that following yesterday's "no holds barred" discussion of Drumcree and its aftermath, there was a "clearing of the air" at Stormont. Politicians seemed to realise that the only hope of political progress was through these talks.
In "robust" fashion, Mrs Owen called on the participants to end their tortuous discussions about ground rules and move to substantive matters.
Her comments angered the unionist parties. Mr John Taylor, the Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader, said she had been "very offensive and threatening" while Mr Robert McCartney of the UK Unionist Party accused her of being "patronising and high handed".
Mr Mitchell yesterday gave the participants a document outlining the remaining key areas of disagreement over rules and procedures. The purpose of the document was to focus the delegates' minds on reaching an agreement, so that full round table talks can at least begin next Monday, before the summer break.
Mr Seamus Mallon, the SDLP deputy leader, said he hoped those parties opposing proposed rules and procedures would have a "change of heart" to allow talks to proceed.
"It would be very, very difficult for the talks process if it was in effect to go into recess without even an agreement on the opening agenda", said Mr Mallon.
Mr Taylor accused the Government and the SDLP of trying to "override" the multi party talks process in favour of an imposed solution `derived' from the Anglo Irish Agreement.
"Everything that I have heard here today from both the SDLP and the Southern Irish Government reinforces my opinion that they want to wreck these talks," he said. Mr Taylor said disputed issues included Mr Mitchell's role as chairman, and whether the constitutional position of Northern Ireland would be up for negotiation. Unionists were not prepared to have constitutional matters on the table and the "people of Northern Ireland will rally behind us if we have to dig our heels in on that particular issue."
The multi party talks continue today and tomorrow with Senator Mitchell hoping that the rules and procedures can be agreed by tomorrow, so that a plenary session can begin by Monday. Early next week the talks are due to take a summer break until September.
