The first real engagement between the British government and Sinn Fein was how Mr Gerry Adams characterised his initial face-to-ace encounter at Stormont with the new Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, yesterday. Both Dr Mowlam and Mr Adams described yesterday's meeting as "businesslike".
There were clear differences between the Sinn Fein president and Dr Mowlam on the political way forward but both politicians indicated a willingness to do business together when the substantive talks, scheduled for September 15th, begin.
Mr Adams, who led a five-member delegation in the talks, including Sinn Fein's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, told Dr Mowlam he wanted to see an "end to British rule on this island".
Dr Mowlam, for her part, said a settlement could only be achieved with the consent of a majority of the people in Northern Ireland.
Both Mr Adams and Dr Mowlam greeted each other with a handshake, but out of camera-shot inside Castle Buildings, Stormont.
Dr Mowlam described Mr Adams as a "strong, competent leader" and said the meeting contributed to her feeling that republicans were genuine about peace.
"I hope that, in the weeks ahead, we get the ceasefire continued and that he is able, in the genuineness of that ceasefire, to take his place at the talks with the other parties so that we can have an inclusive talks process," she said.
Mr Adams said unlike the previous British government, the new administration was prepared to embark on a "real engagement" with Sinn Fein.
He welcomed Dr Mowlam as the first woman Northern Secretary, but added: "We also want her to be the last British Secretary of State. We want to see Ireland free of British jurisdiction - that is our goal and aim."
Yesterday's talks, which began shortly after 11 a.m., lasted for almost 2 1/2 hours, with further meetings planned ahead of the next plenary talks session on September 9th and the substantive talks on September 15th.
The Sinn Fein delegation presented a five-age position paper to Dr Mowlam outlining the three main headings under which the party would approach the talks: political and constitutional change; an equality agenda; and demilitarisation. Mr Adams said he was satisfied that all relevant issues would be on the table on September 15th.
Many issues were discussed yesterday, including consent, all-Ireland self-determination, decommissioning, demilitarisation, parades, prisoners and equality of treatment.
Dr Mowlam urged Sinn Fein "to work to achieve the earliest possible decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons", but held to the British-Irish paper on decommissioning which pledged that the issue would not be a block to inclusive talks in the event of a credible IRA ceasefire.
She apologised to any victims of IRA violence who might be offended by yesterday's meeting but reiterated that inclusive talks in a peaceful atmosphere was the best way of finally settling the confict.
