A resolution of the Drumcree controversy seemed as far away as ever yesterday when the Garvaghy Residents Coalition rejected Mr David Trimble's suggestion that the 1995 solution might be acceptable.
The Ulster Unionist Party leader made this suggestion at the launch of his party's manifesto on Tuesday. After the stand off in 1995, the march was allowed to proceed silently down the Garvaghy Road.
"David Trimble seems to have forgotten the experience of the residents of the Garvaghy Road in area in 1996," the coalition said in a statement.
"The community was humiliated and traumatised when the RUC used excessive force to clear the road for Orangemen who had been involved in four days of lawlessness and violence.
"Mr Trimble has also forgotten his TV interview at the bottom of the Garvaghy Road in 1995 when he said: `There was no agreement. We walked our traditional route and we will walk it again'."
However, the coalition said there was hope in his statement in that he appeared to be acknowledging the validity of the 1995 agreement. "Is he willing to lead the way and begin dialogue in 1997?" the coalition asked.
Mr Trimble indicated how he might reply to this question in a separate response to a statement from the Spirit of Drumcree, suggesting he had been in touch with the Garvaghy Road residents.
"There has been no contact with the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition; still less has there been any negotiation," he said.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein met the Parades Commission yesterday. "We explained to the members of the commission that in our view the issue essentially boils down to a recognition of equality," the party said in a statement.