Northern Ireland's politicians are showing encouraging signs that they are beginning to reach out across the divide to other communities, President Bush's special adviser on the North said today.
Days after Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams said he believed unionists could not be forced into a united Ireland, Ambassador Mr Richard Haass said he viewed the comments as "a step in the right direction".
Mr Haass, who took part in the World Economic Forum session in New York where Mr Adams made his remarks, told reporters: "A lot of what I heard the other day in New York was to me encouraging.
"Really for the first time publicly I heard people saying things that were clearly meant to resonate positively across community lines - in the case of Mr Adams to try and reach out to unionists.
"So I think that was a step in the right direction on his part and I would say the same for Mr Durkan, Mr Trimble and David Ervine," Mr Haass said.
Mr Adams argued earlier this week in New York that unionists needed to "begin seriously thinking about, discussing and engaging with nationalists and republicans about the nature and form a new and acceptable united Ireland might take.
"A united Ireland will not be a cold house for unionists if it guarantees their rights and entitlements, if they have their own place, their own stake in it and a sense of security and ownership," Mr Adams said.
But his remarks were dismissed by Mr Trimble during an appearance yesterday at Washington's National Press Club. He challenged the Sinn Féin leader instead to "follow through the logic" of his comments and admit the IRA's terror campaign of three decades was wrong.