THE ULSTER Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, has said Sinn Fein must agree at the outset of talks that the IRA will decommission weapons a very short time after negotiations begin.
Mr Trimble, who was speaking at the launch of his party's manifesto yesterday, said all parties must state their "total and absolute commitment to the Mitchell principles, which include decommissioning".
Actual decommissioning must happen alongside negotiations and Sinn Fein would have to agree to that at the outset of talks, he said.
Mr Trimble stated that the Anglo Irish Agreement was effectively dead and that his party's aim was to seek a broader agreement based on pragmatic considerations rather than a political agenda which considered the British Isles as a region.
"We seek a new accord which will take account of our real needs and which would enjoy real support," he said. Mr Trimble added that there should be no reward for the Republic if it chose to scrap Articles 2 and 3.
He said the UUP was putting a constructive manifesto before the electorate "We are approaching the forum and the talks process positively, seeking to get the maximum consensus on the future administration of Northern Ireland together with the wider relationship within these islands."
Mr Trimble stated that the forum would allow people "to have a stake in, and ownership of the peace process for the first time.
"The forum will be a place where elected representatives can debate all the relevant issues of the day. It can also take evidence on issues relevant to the talks and be able to assist the negotiation process when requested to do so by acting as a sounding board for ideas," he, said. Mr Tumble said that maintaining the Union offered everybody in the North the best deal. "We are convinced that the Union, which is supported by the vast majority, offers the best prospect for peace and fair play and it is where our cultural and religious diversity can best be accommodated. Our economic well being is also best guaranteed within the Union."
The UUP launched its manifesto on Laganside where a major regeneration project is under way.
"Ten years ago the Lagan was a mess, with no life and no future" Mr Trimble said. "Many groups, including Ulster Unionists pulled together to build an exciting future for one of the province's best known rivers.
"Today the Lagan is a vital, attractive and sought after area. This is an excellent example of what we can achieve for our province if we all, unionists and nationalists work together inside the democratic consensus."