There are deep differences among the pro-agreement parties on how best to achieve the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement, according to the review facilitator, Senator George Mitchell.
The former chairman of the Northern peace talks said his discussions with the parties this week had "confirmed the obvious reality" that there was a chasm of contention between the pro-agreement parties and, on another level, between the pro- and anti-agreement parties.
Mr Mitchell yesterday met the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, and the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, to brief them on his initial round of meetings with the parties.
Despite his acknowledgement of the current difficulties over decommissioning and the formation of an executive, Mr Mitchell said in a statement that he was encouraged by "the seriousness of purpose with which all parties were entering the review process.
"On Monday, before this round of discussions, I said that I believe those difficulties can be overcome. I still believe that and will do all I can to achieve that result." The former US senator also had a half-hour meeting at Castle Buildings with the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, before the talks adjourned until Monday, allowing attention to focus on the Patten report on the future of policing in the North.
As she left Stormont Ms O'Donnell said she was hopeful that consensus would be reached over the coming weeks. The Belfast Agreement was still on track if the goodwill existed between the parties. The two governments would "take stock" as a result of the meeting with Mr Mitchell, and she reiterated that the review would be tightly focused on the arms issue and the establishment of a Northern administration.
"It is very important that we instil confidence in our citizens that we are on course to implement the Good Friday agreement in full. All we need is for all the parties concerned to recommit themselves to the engine that has taken us this far, the engine of compromise."
Ms O'Donnell was yesterday briefed on the Patten report, and while she said a formal Government response would not be forthcoming until today, she described the report as "comprehensive" and containing "major" recommendations. She stressed that the remit for the Patten commission was granted by the signatories of the Belfast Agreement.
The two governments would be "fairly committed" to implementing the recommendations of the commission, she added.
Ms O'Donnell said that any fair-minded person would agree that there was a need for a new start to policing the community in Northern Ireland. "To articulate the need for reform is not in any way to insult the memory of hundreds of RUC men who were killed in their service to the community by subversives," she added.