MR David Trimble has again sought to shut the door on Sinn Fein's participation in the Stormont multi party talks process. The Ulster Unionist leader told the House of Commons last night "the present situation surely must mean that we've reached the point where the possibility of Sinn Fein/IRA entering into the process is now gone".
Speaking on the second day of the Commons debate on the Queen's Speech, Mr Trimble welcomed Mr John Major's declaration on Wednesday that the IRA have excluded themselves by their return to violence". Mr Trimble said: "I think that phrase `they have excluded themselves' is significant. It is not `they are excluding themselves'. It is quite definite - they have excluded themselves."
And he continued: "And I think that surely must mean, and the present situation surely must mean, that we've reached the point where the possibility of Sinn Fein/IRA entering into the process is now gone."
The UUP leader said: "Government may want to use a formula which indicates that the theoretical possibility is open. But in the real world we have to acknowledge that has gone."
Mr Trimble welcomed Mr Major's assertion that Sinn Fein should be under no illusion "that they can join the process until they've demonstrated real commitment to democratic and non violent methods".
But if the government wished to hold open the possibility of return, he said "it is necessary to spell out precisely what is meant by a real commitment to democracy".
Mr Trimble said they did not want "a repeat of the situation in 1994 when" ambiguous formulae were used. . . when the government made working assumptions working assumptions which have since been disproved by events". He continued: "We need now to have some precision as to what is meant by a ceasefire in this context.
Mr Trimble did not define what this would amount to but signalled that, given "adequate definition" of London's terms for a reliable ceasefire, the UUP was prepared to move into the substantive Three Strand negotiations.
However, he suggested there was "a massive contrast" between the position of Mr Major and that of the Tanaiste, Mr Spring. And he made it clear again that he meant to proceed without Sinn Fein: "We will need to have a willingness on the part of all parties involved to commit themselves on the existing basis - which must mean going ahead without Sinn Fein."