Today's meeting of the new Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast marks an important step forward in the development of democratic politics on this island and the implementation of the Belfast Agreement. The tone will be set by speeches condemning the Omagh atrocity and the murder of 29 people through a bombing campaign by the "Real IRA". After that, the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, will report on progress that has been made in devising new administrative structures for Northern Ireland. They are expected to advise on the number of ministers and junior ministers for the new executive, along with their areas of responsibility. And arrangements for the establishment of a North-South Ministerial Council, along with a British-Irish Council, will be sketched in.
There is little doubt the Democratic Unionist Party and the UK Unionist Party will use the occasion to belittle the very real progress that has been made in recent weeks and to attack Mr Trimble for his face-to-face meeting with the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams. Mr Trimble is also likely to remain under pressure from dissidents within his own party and from those who recently resigned. But the Ulster Unionist Party leader has displayed increasing confidence and sure-footedness in dealing with a very difficult and complex political situation.
What we are witnessing at the moment is a slow and carefully orchestrated engagement between republicans and unionists in a search for understanding, compromise and peace. Mr Adams said as much following his meeting with Mr Trimble last Thursday. They had listened carefully to one another, the Sinn Fein leader explained, because they were engaged in a learning process.
Listening to the words of both Mr Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness in recent days, it appears that that Sinn Fein has turned some psychological corner in the peace process. Its public utterances have become conciliatory, rather than confrontational. It seems determined to make the Belfast Agreement work and to engage with Mr Trimble and the Ulster Unionist Party in a constructive and calm way. The difficulties inherent in the decommissioning issue and in the appointment of Sinn Fein members of the shadow Northern executive have been acknowledged. Mr Adams spoke of Sinn Fein "using its influence" to resolve the former problem while expecting progress on the latter.
The two Governments have their own roles to play in supporting the peace process. The withdrawal of British army patrols from the streets of Belfast and their reduction in other areas have created political space for republicans. And this is likely to be followed by the closure of some army bases in Border areas. The release of both loyalist and republican prisoners should also underpin the peace.
Reform of the RUC is another important component of the peace process, as the former governor of Hong Kong, Mr Chris Patten, prepares to produce a report by next summer. In that regard, the newly-appointed Deputy Chief Constable of the RUC, Mr Colin Cramphorn, has recognised the police force is facing into "a major period of change". These are all positive, if somewhat painful, developments for a deeply divided community. But they offer the best prospect for peace and eventual reconciliation.