THE multi party talks at Castle Buildings, Stormont have adjourned until next Monday, still in a logjam over decommissioning. The parties met for a two hour plenary session under chairman Mr George Mitchell yesterday morning, but failed to make any progress on the issue.
A second attempt this week by the UK Unionist Party MP, Mr Robert McCartney, to force a decision on decommissioning was again defeated. His proposal would have required some prior disarmament before the paramilitaries could move to talks.
Only the DUP supported him. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), while favouring some decommissioning before parties linked to paramilitaries could move to substantive talks, is also anxious that a categorical position on disarmament should not yet be adopted.
The UUP argued that had the parties passed such a motion - which Mr McCartney also tabled on Monday - the talks would have collapsed, and unionists would have been blamed for precipitating that collapse.
According to sources at the talks, it is unlikely that any decision will be made on decommissioning until the British government's response to the Hume Adams initiative, aimed at creating inclusive talks and a new IRA ceasefire, is firmly established.
After the two hour plenary session yesterday the parties continued to meet in bilateral session. Another plenary session is scheduled for Monday.