THERE is little sign of the parties in the Northern talks being prepared to move away from the positions of principle they hold on the issue of decommissioning, the NIO Minister for Political Development, Mr Michael Ancram has said.
In an opening address to the plenary session of the talks yesterday, Mr Ancram said this constituted a serious obstacle, which might become a stalemate.
However, he said the British government team, in discussions with all the parties during the past two weeks, had detected a widespread realisation of the urgent need "to demonstrate that there is a valid and effective democratic alternative to the paths of violence, terrorism and intimidation".
This had been matched by "a growing determination, on the part of most of the parties we have spoken to and of the Irish Government, to join us in seeking to make real progress in these talks at the earliest possible moment".
Mr Ancram also asserted that "whatever the difficulties we currently face, we are at least on the right path". The negotiations provided the opportunity to reach a functioning political accommodation which would provide the best basis for long term stability and lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
The British government intended, he said, to propose a further intensive period of bilateral discussions.