The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, last night attacked the "prophets of doom" who oppose all-party talks and believe the British government will sell out unionists.
He was speaking as the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, and the UK Unionist leader, Mr Bob McCartney, addressed a mass rally in the Ulster Hall to voice their opposition to the talks process. Dr Paisley yesterday pledged to destroy the negotiations which, he said, were aimed at smashing the Union.
Addressing a constituency meeting in Lurgan, Co Armagh, Mr Trimble appealed to both parties to join negotiations and "stop stabbing in the back" unionists who were prepared to take on Sinn Fein in face-to-face talks.
"One sad aspect of politics today is the relentless negativity of a minority of unionists," he said. "These prophets of doom say that participation in talks is useless, that there is a predetermined outcome which government will impose.
"I reject such pessimism. I am in politics to try to change things for the better. I do not accept that our efforts are futile and predestined to fail. Even if government, in fact, has at present a determination to impose a particular outcome next year, which I doubt, we would then say that unionists should ask themselves, `How do we change the government's mind, how do we turn the tide?'."
The UUP leader said his party had decided to remain in the talks, despite Sinn Fein's presence because that was "the best way to turn the tables" on republicans.
"Last week, we created a situation where Sinn Fein voted against consent and decommissioning and everybody else, including the Irish Government and the SDLP, voted for consent and decommissioning," he said.
"We will continue to press these issues, particularly consent, so that it is fully embodied in the outcome of the talks. As last week demonstrated, Sinn Fein's agreement is not necessary and it holds no veto over progress."
Mr Trimble was optimistic that unionists would not be disappointed by the Stormont negotiations. Republicans would have to choose between "withdrawing from talks or being carried towards an outcome which will, of course, be fair and reasonable, but will also be unmistakably British".
In an indirect reference to the DUP and the UK Unionist party, he said that a minority of unionists had let their fears overcome their judgment. He appealed to them to rejoin the process and to "stop stabbing in the back those of us who have the courage to face the enemies of peace and democracy".
Dr Paisley yesterday said he had been given an "ultimatum" by the Northern Secretary when they met last Friday. Dr Mo Mowlam had told him if he didn't enter negotiations, he would forfeit his influence over political events as the British government would not consult or negotiate with parties outside the process, he claimed.
"The Secretary of State has handed over the keys to the talks to IRA/Sinn Fein," he said. "I told her in no uncertain terms that she, as a minister of the crown, had no right to ask democratically elected representatives to sit down with terrorists."
Dr Paisley said he had drawn up a political strategy for the coming months which he would outline later. He intended to let the people of Northern Ireland know "what is really going on behind their backs".
Meanwhile, the first meeting of the business committee, which will agree the agenda and schedule for talks, will meet at Stormont today. It is expected to be at least a week before substantive negotiations begin. Each party is entitled to have up to two members on the committee. The UUP will be represented by a former Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mr Reg Empey, and a former Mayor of Derry, Mr Jack Allen. The SDLP delegates will be the party's former chairman, Mr Mark Durkan, and Belfast councillor, Mr Alex Attwood. Sinn Fein will be represented by Mr Martin McGuinness, and Ms Bairbre de Brun.
The SDLP yesterday said that while it anticipated disagreements among the committee members, it believed that these could be resolved.