Unionists urged the speaker of the US House of Representatives to take on board their concerns about decommissioning and Sinn Fein taking up government positions without a "clear demonstration" of a commitment to democratic principles.
Representatives from the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party emphasised to Mr Newt Gingrich and his US congressional delegation yesterday during a meeting in the Culloden Hotel, in Belfast, that recent outbreaks of violence had done little to ease unionist concerns about the peace process.
Speaking after the meeting a UUP Assembly member, Mr Dermot Nesbitt, said Mr Gingrich had been "receptive" to issues raised.
The US administration needed to understand what unionists required to "operate in honour of the [Belfast] Agreement", Mr Reg Empey, who accompanied Mr Nesbitt, said. "We require clear commitments that are verifiable," he added.
Speaking after his one-hour meeting with Mr Gingrich, Mr Ian Paisley jnr, of the DUP, said he told the US congressman the peace process was "a sham" and said he believed it was time for the US administration to reconsider its involvement.
Mr Paisley said it was "incompatible" for US politicians to support the release of paramilitary prisoners. He said if the Belfast Agreement were implemented in the US it would mean the effective release of the Oklahoma bomber, Timothy McVeigh, and a place for him in government.
"We think it is inconsistent for him [Mr Gingrich] to support the agreement and for his country to take a different view towards terrorism in Africa and in his own country. Is he seriously saying he should release terrorists in Africa or release Timothy McVeigh and get him to Capitol Hill and give him a place in government?" he said.
Mr Gingrich's pledge of continued economic investment in Northern Ireland was welcome, but not if it was used to "buy" Northern Ireland politics, Mr Paisley added.