THE Ulster Unionist Party leader said slow progress was being made at the multi-party peace talks, but that so far they were changing the unacceptable into what probably would be the "merely tolerable".
Mr David Trimble said the participants should press on and ensure that the procedures were settled and that the decommissioning issue would be "treated properly" so that "Sinn Fein/IRA will not be able to avoid the issue."
He said changes were being made to the procedures and agenda, and everybody would see the proof soon. Meanwhile, those who had walked out had walked back in. Those who had described the committee as non-existent were sitting around the table. Those who described the revision of the procedures as a fraudulent exercise were now exerting themselves to make a useful contribution.
There must be significant changes on the crucial issue of decommissioning, he added. "The attempt by the [British] government to bury this issue so that Sinn Fein/IRA can be smuggled into the talks must be radically changed.
"Those elements in the Department of Foreign Affairs and the NIO who want above all else to bring in Sinn Fein/IRA know that at the moment, after Manchester, after Adare, after the Munster bomb factory, to attempt such a move would be hopeless."
He accused the British and Irish teams of wanting to put the whole process "on ice" and make another attempt in the autumn.
He said the slow pace so far was partly because of the number of parties involved, but it was also partly because "some of those who have rejoined the process seem to be engaged in delaying tactics. This is most unwise.
Meanwhile, Mr George Mitchell, who delivered a lecture at Queen's University Belfast yesterday on "Democracy: The American Experience", advised parties in the North to look forward rather than backwards.
Two key negotiators of the South African peace process, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, Secretary-General of the ANC, and Mr Roelof Meyer, Secretary-General of the National Party, had discussions in Belfast yesterday with a cross-section of Northern parties and addressed a public meeting hosted by the Irish Association.
In media interviews, Mr Ramaphosa said: "It is not for us to even begin to prescribe to anybody what they should learn from what we have gone through. That is really up to them ..."
"I have a great belief in the need for mutual trust, and of course mutual trust can best be built through solid personal relationships," Mr Meyer said.
"Although Cyril and myself come from totally different backgrounds, politically and otherwise, the process got us together, and I think we can say that today we are good friends in spite of the differences we still hold as politicians and as people representing different groupings.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, with Mr Martin McGuinness and Mr Gerry Kelly, were among the delegations which held talks with the South African visitors. Afterwards Mr Adams said one of the lessons of the South African experience was that if there was a political will to bring about change, then despite all the difficulties that change could be achieved.
"I think it is clear to everyone that an incomplete process like the one which is happening at Stormont at the moment cannot hope to achieve a peace settlement," Mr Adams said. There was a responsibility on everyone, "including us, but particularly the governments and especially the British government" to try to bring about the type of inclusive process that was needed.
Asked if he could patch up his relationship with the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, Mr Adams replied: "Well, I don't even want to have a dispute with Mr Bruton. I think that the real focus needs to be - and the critical point of all of this is - British policy at this time."
"I surely think that we can mend our relationship with the Irish Government and with the Taoiseach, and that would be part of our commitment."