A UNIQUE conference on the peace process, involving all the political parties in Northern Ireland, is to be held at the end of the month in South Africa. Representatives of all the political parties in the North have never before attended the same political conference.
It is understood that special "apartheid" conditions have been demanded by some unionists, so that they will not have direct contact with Sinn Fein. However, a senior loyalist politician described these demands as "posturing", since the South Africans had "clearly choreographed" the conference in such a way that politicians could meet whomever they chose. "They do not have to take part in talks or workshops with any political group."
Coming after the speech by the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in Belfast last Friday, the loyalist politician was positive about the conference. While describing it as an "opportunity to learn", he stressed that the South Africans had insisted that they were not offering a "quick fix solution".
It is not yet known where the convention will take place, but the venue is likely to be a game reserve in South Africa.
The conference is being sponsored by the ANC government and President Nelson Mandela is expected to host a dinner for all the politicians, at which he will call for an end to violence and inclusive political dialogue.
The Northern politicians will be flown to South Africa on May 29th, returning on June 2nd. The multi party talks are due to reconvene at Stormont on June 3rd.
Invitations to the conference have come from Mr Valli Moosa, the South African Minister for Provincial Affairs. He has been liaising with Mr Kader Asmal, the Minister for Water, who lived in Ireland for many years.
Mr Padraig O'Malley, a Boston based Irish writer who will be coordinating the event, said: "There will be separate dining facilities and separate accommodation. Workshops will all be run so that unionists don't have to sit in the same groups as Sinn Fein unless they want to. We could never hold the event unless we could put into place these sort of arrangements."
Referring to the possibility of President Mandela hosting a dinner for the participants, Mr O'Malley said: "If Nelson Mandela is there, he will be the only one speaking. None of the local politicians will be getting up to thank him or to make contributions which could embarrass the other participants. They may be in the same room, but it will be like going to a movie - you don't have to talk to anyone unless you want to."
Key figures who helped to negotiate the transition from apartheid to majority rule will be present. These will include Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and Mr Roelf Meyer, chief negotiators for the ANC and the National Party. The two visited Belfast last June and gave a lecture on how the new South Africa was negotiated.
It is understood that the Northern parties will have an opportunity to "book time" with individual South African negotiators. This will afford them a chance to discuss tactics and problems which are likely to arise during the resumed all party talks on the future of Northern Ireland.
It has been made clear that the South Africans do not see themselves as mediators.
Mr Peter Robinson, deputy leader of the DUP, said that his party had asked for certain assurances from the organisers. If these were met, he would attend. "The conditions are to ensure that we will be hermetically sealed from Sinn Fein. We need to know that we will travel separately, lodge separately, socialise separately, meet people separately, apartheid in fact", Mr Robinson said.
He felt that the conference could be useful provided it was clear that it was not going to be a "talks process or a negotiating process". Instead, it should be a "learning experience on a one to one basis with the South Africans".