,The three principles outlined by the two governments in June could resolve the impasse over arms and the formation of an executive if the political will exists, according to Sinn Fein vice-president Mr Pat Doherty.
He welcomed their use as a starting point to the review of the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and said this was acceptable as long as they are "firmly bedded" in the terms of the agreement.
The three principles of an inclusive executive, total decommissioning by May 2000, and the arms disposed of in a manner determined by Gen John de Chastelain's commission, were presented by the governments during negotiations at Castle buildings in June. Mr Doherty described the party's meeting with Mr George Mitchell last night as "friendly and constructive". Sinn Fein presented him with a document outlining its analysis of the current state of the peace process.
"It is Sinn Fein's view that the review can be successful," Mr Doherty said. "This requires that the two governments fulfil their responsibilities. The British government, in particular, must defend the agreement. Their recent stewardship is a cause for concern." He said the review must conclude that the executive, the North-South ministerial council and the British-Irish council should already have been established. "David Trimble's party and my party were able to sign up to the Good Friday agreement," he said. "Whatever moved us at the time to do that, let it again move us to implement the agreement.' Earlier, arriving at Castle Buildings with Assembly colleagues, Mr Doherty stressed that Sinn Fein was totally committed to the Belfast Agreement.
"Sinn Fein is approaching this review in a very positive and constructive manner. We're going into this review with an attitude that it can work. Our commitment to the Good Friday agreement is absolute. That is the plan A and that is the plan that we want to see implemented."
Arriving with his delegation, the SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, said that the review process would decide if the Belfast Agreement would work. He did not envisage the review taking a long period. "I think the quicker it is done, the more effectively it will be done," he said.
The institutions of the agreement, including the executive, should then be made fully effective, Mr Mallon added. "I would hope that this review will focus immediately on the central issues; that it will get to the heart of the problem immediately; that there will be no waste of time and that we establish once and for all if in effect the political parties in Northern Ireland are going to do what they pledged to do."
He urged the parties "to take what we have already agreed, to translate that into political institutions, and then make those political institutions work to the benefit of everyone within Northern Ireland and within this island."
Meanwhile, the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, yesterday telephoned his party from his hospital bed in Austria, where he underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured intestine last week.
He wished his delegation well in the review discussions and gave them "encouragement and a few words of advice," according to a party spokesman. Mr Hume was recovering well, he said.