A TRILATERAL meeting at Stormont yesterday involving Irish and British ministers and Sinn Fein was seen as a significant further step in the political channel of the twin track process. But Mr Gerry Adams admitted afterwards that a "state of limbo" was likely to prevail until Senator George Mitchell's international body reports next week.
As the decommissioning body continued a series of meetings in Belfast, the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, and the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, along with other senior ministers, met a Sinn Fein delegation at Stormont for their first joint session with that party.
Afterwards Mr Spring said he considered the meeting to have represented significant movement in the whole process. Mr Adams also said it was an important step but he revealed that in the course of the discussions Sir Patrick had reiterated his government's commitment to the Washington 3 precondition requiring some decommissioning of arms before all party talks.
Mr Adams said the Government's stance at the meeting had been "much more positive and progressive" than the British approach. "The next phase of the peace process, according to the British government, depends very much on an acceptable report from the Mitchell body," he said. "The Irish Government's concern is to ensure that everyone gets around a table.
In reply to questions, Mr Adams confirmed that the question of an elected body had been raised, and Sinn Fein had placed on record its opposition to this. "These are matters which are up for discussion as part of any agenda, but not as a precondition."
He said the twin track approach would not be able to deliver a solution - if the British government continued to withhold the leadership that was required to bring about forward movement.
Mr Spring, who spoke to reporters separately, was asked about his attitude to the latest correspondence he had received from the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble. He said: "On one analysis of the letter it would seem that Mr Trimble would favour an internal settlement and then to have negotiations with the Irish Government.
"That is not the premise upon which we have based all of our efforts with the British government. The British and Irish governments want to see the three stranded approach as the premise for the talks, and that has been agreed by us."
Sir Patrick left without speaking to the press. A Northern Ireland Office communique said there had been a useful exchange of views on the way forward, and the two governments had reaffirmed their firm aim of securing the launch of all party negotiations by the end of February, on the basis of co operation from all the relevant parties in both tracks. It had been agreed that further meetings should be arranged.
Sinn Fein sources asserted later the British side had indicated that they were not seeking an internal settlement. The Northern Secretary had also affirmed that the Framework Document would be on the agenda for inclusive talks, the sources said.