THE UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, has again told Mr Dick Spring that the question of an elected body in the North and how it can lead on to all party negotiations is "an internal matter".
In a letter - apparently replying to correspondence from the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs - Mr Trimble indicated a continued reluctance to talk to him on a broad agenda.
The UUP leader, who has consistently published the text of his letters to Mr Spring, has maintained that a specific agenda must be agreed before they meet.
He writes, in a letter dated February 20th: "I understand your desire to widen the agenda for our proposed meeting to include the way in which we can move as quickly as possible to all party negotiations'. However that presents a problem.
"We consider that the best way forward is through an elected body. Such a body would be created by United Kingdom legislation and would operate within Northern Ireland. It would therefore be an internal matter.
"You will recall that in your letter of 14th February 1996 you confirmed the Irish Government's non participation in discussions relating exclusively to the internal affairs of Northern Ireland". Therefore the creation and operation of that body should not be a matter for discussion between us.
"Of course the negotiations we hope will develop out of the elected body will deal with certain issues on which the Irish Republic has an input to make, and, as I mentioned in my letter of 16th February, I am happy to discuss with you the way in which that can be done."
Mr Trimble sent the Tanaiste a copy of the UUP document The Democratic Imperative, which sets out the party's view of how an elected body should come into being and function.
He told Mr Spring: "I do hope we can agree on the agenda soon and that the arrangements for the forthcoming London summit can be made so as to accommodate a meeting."