The prospect of face-to-face talks for the first time between the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, and the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, grew last night when it was announced that Sinn Fein had been invited by Mr Trimble to attend a "roundtable" meeting at Stormont next Monday along with representatives of other Assembly parties.
The invitation was issued jointly by Mr Trimble, in his capacity as First Minister, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, of the SDLP. News of the invitation emerged shortly after a statement by Mr Adams that violence must now be "a thing of the past, over, done with and gone".
Last night, President Bill Clinton joined the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in welcoming Mr Adams's statement. Mr Clinton said the statement "is an important contribution to building the trust and confidence necessary to make the Good Friday accord a reality". The White House is understood to have been centrally involved in brokering what many regard as a breakthrough in the peace process. The Irish and British governments were also extremely active.
Political insiders said there was a great deal of co-ordination and "choreography" among different parties and governments in advance of the Sinn Fein statement. Despite the high expectations placed on Monday's meeting, UUP sources insisted it would have taken place anyway because the two ministers were required to give a progress report on issues such as the formation of the shadow executive in the new Assembly.
The UUP also stressed that during Monday's meeting the party would be reiterating the need for actual decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.
There was also widespread expectation in the North last night that Sinn Fein would soon formally nominate Mr Martin McGuinness as its liaison officer with the body on weapons decommissioning chaired by Gen John de Chastelain. Sinn Fein refused to comment on reports that a meeting between the two men would take place in Belfast today.
Mr Trimble gave a "cautious welcome" to yesterday's statement by Mr Adams but added that "carefully crafted words alone" were not enough. It is understood senior unionists were aware of the content of the Adams text hours in advance of its publication , probably courtesy of Downing Street.
Republican sources were encouraged by the measured tone of Mr Trimble's response to Mr Adams's statement.
In the aftermath of the Adams gesture and today's expected meeting between Mr McGuinness and Gen de Chastelain, republicans will be expecting reciprocal gestures from Mr Trimble. However, political insiders played down the likelihood of significant moves by the UUP leader during this week's visit by Mr Clinton.
Mr Blair said the Adams statement confirmed his view that Sinn Fein deserved to be taken seriously in its commitment to exclusively peaceful means. The Northern Secretary, Dr Mowlam, welcomed what she described as a significant statement.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said the statement was "a further positive contribution by Sinn Fein to the building of confidence and trust". The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton said he hoped Mr Trimble would meet Mr Adams and question him face-to-face on the true position of the republican movement.
Government sources in Dublin confirmed that the Sinn Fein statement was "their war is over" statement. "We are happy that it is as positive as might be expected at this stage," one source added.