Representatives of the smaller pro-Agreement parties finished their talks this evening with British and Irish government officials, with Mr David Ervine, leader of Progressive Unionist Party, declaring that he would recommend to a party Executive meeting that they take no further part in the dialogue.
|
|
Prime Minister Tony Blair and the
Taoiseach, Mr Ahern |
After leaving the discussions at Weston Park to return to Belfast for the Executive meeting tomorrow he said: "My view is that we have pretty much run our course in this phase of the talks."
He made it clear that the party was not happy with how the negotiations were being conducted. "If the executive of the PUP takes my advice we would not be involved in further talks."
However he said the PUP not walked out of Weston Park, it had always been intended that the smaller parties would only attend the first day of dialogue, he said.
They made no comments to waiting reporters as they were driven out of the gates of the estate.
Delegations from the Alliance Party, the Women's' Alliance and Ulster Democratic Party also left this evening leaving only the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and Prime Minister Tony Blair to continue discussions with the larger pro-Agreement parties.
Earlier, the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister arrived by helicopter at the meeting in Weston Park in Shropshire.
Speaking at the Prime Ministers official residence in Chequers, before traveling to the talks, the Taoiseach insisted on the need for progress to be made quickly.
"This is the week where we can try to finish the outstanding issues. Over these next few days, if we work together...I believe we can come to a successful conclusion," Mr Ahern said.
When they arrived at the secluded location in Shropshire, both premiers immediately went inside for talks with Northern Ireland’s main pro-Agreement parties who had arrived earlier.
They will attempt to break the deadlock over decommissioning, policing, demilitarisation and the operation of the political institutions.
The parties are trying to avert the most serious crisis yet in the process following the resignation of Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble as First Minister. He stood down on July st over the IRA's failure to disarm.
|
|
Mr Seamus Mallon and Mr John Hume
|
Mr Trimble said the talks process had reached a critical phase. "We are approaching, I think, what may very well be the moment of truth for this entire process," he said.
"We have worked very hard to try to realise the Agreement . . . and we have seen precious little thanks and very little support from other parties."
Mr Trimble condemned Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams for what he alleged was his "entirely cavalier" attitude to the Agreement.
But Sinn Féin MP Ms Michelle Gildernew said the onus was on the British government to move the peace process forward by honouring its commitments on police reform and the scaling down of army bases and operations.
Officials said no timetable had been set for how late talks would go on this evening.
PA