The Northern Ireland Office issued the following statement after yesterday's meeting between the North's Political Development Minister, Mr Paul Murphy, and the Ulster Democratic Party:
"Mr Paul Murphy MP, the Minister for Political Development, today met a delegation from the Ulster Democratic Party, at their request, to discuss the circumstances in which the UDP might be invited to rejoin the negotiations.
"Mr Murphy drew their attention to the determination issued by the two governments on 26 January. That determination concluded that the UFF statement of 23 January left room for doubt as to how unequivocal the restored ceasefire was.
"The determination also said that: "If over a period of weeks a complete, unequivocal and unqualified UFF ceasefire were demonstrated, and established through word and deed to have been fully and continuously observed, the governments would consider the possibility of the UDP rejoining the negotiations."
The Minister welcomed the fact that events on the ground were consistent with a cessation of terrorist activity by the UFF, but warned that any evidence to the contrary would have direct and unavoidable consequences for the UDP's prospects of being invited to rejoin the negotiations.
Mr Murphy confirmed that in the light of the points made at the meeting the Government would now, in consultation with the Irish Government, begin to review the UDP's eligibility to participate in the negotiations, with a view to considering whether the necessary conditions had been met in order to enable the UDP to re-enter the process by the end of February.