Hopes of progress in talks after Stormont meetings

THERE were hopes last night that the multi party talks may finally move into a substantive phase after meetings at Stormont involving the British and Irish Governments, the SDLP and the Ulster Unionist Party.

This development coincides with a visit to Ireland this weekend by an Irish American delegation led by the former US Congressman, Mr Bruce Morrison. Amid speculation about an IRA ceasefire, observers were attaching significance to the visit, which is at the invitation of Sinn Fein. Mr Morrison was an influential figure in the build up to the IRA's 1994 ceasefire.

After the bilateral meetings with the British government and the UUP delegation, led by party leader, Mr David Trimble the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, said he believed they were making progress. The meetings discussed the crucial issue of decommissioning and how that might be dealt with if the talks moved to the substantive agenda.

The deputy UUP leader, Mr John Taylor, criticised the governments for "dragging their heels" about the introduction of legislation on decommissioning.

"Both governments are creating an obstacle to progress in these talks because unless they go ahead with what they promise to do and introduce this legislation to provide for decommissioning, the Ulster Unionists will not be proceeding any further with the main strands in these talks."

Mr Spring stressed that the Government has always said, right from the publication of the Mitchell Report, that "we were prepared to bring in legislation and do whatever is necessary, to deal with the very difficult issue of decommissioning. We have said that right from the start, and there is no difficulty from the Irish Government's point of view in doing that.

However, the Tanaiste added that it was too early to make an announcement about progress towards the substantive agenda. "I think we are working towards that, but there is a lot of work to be done yet," he said, but the Government was concerned that she talks should not turn into a decommissioning forum"

The meeting with the UUP was the third in recent days and a further meeting is scheduled for today. They were going to build on those meetings, he said.

The Ulster Unionists at the moment want decommissioning to top the agenda of the substantive talks but the Government wants decommissioning to be dealt with on a parallel basis to allow for the inclusion of Sinn Fein in the negotiations.

The SDLP also met the UUP to discuss decommissioning and the substantive agenda. A party representative, Mr Sean Farren, said his party had reached a "common understanding" with the UUP "as to the shape of the comprehensive agenda for the three political strands, not the opening agenda".

He added. "We have now to address this in our own parties and see if we can reach a greater degree of agreement on it and also because we would be concerned that the agenda shouldn't be seen as something which is the exclusive right of the SDLP and the UUP." The SDLP would be in touch with the other parties "to share the understanding we have reached".

A plenary meeting will take place today, chaired by Mr George Mitchell, who returned from the US last night. It is expected to discuss the Alliance Party's complaints about alleged breaches of the Mitchell principles on non violence by the UUP and the DUP during the Drumcree crisis.