THE TANAISTE, Mr Spring, following the first tripartite meeting between the British and Irish governments and the SDLP, has warned that elections to a news assembly would be divisive.
The three sides described yesterday's hour long meeting at Stormont as "constructive and useful". Afterwards the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said that the end of February deadline for all party talks should be maintained.
However, the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, did not speak to reporters after the meeting, leaving confusion over a cryptic remark relating to an elected assembly he made earlier in the day.
Sir Patrick had hinted at a possible compromise or fudge, on the issue of an assembly election, when speaking in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, yesterday morning.
"I am not aware that an assembly is the only means by which the principle of an election can be fulfilled," he said. However, Sir Patrick did not elaborate on what he meant by this remark, and the Northern Ireland Office was unable to provide clarification.
Mr Spring was keen to signal unanimity between the SDLP, Sinn Fein and the Dublin Government in opposing an elected assembly ahead of all party talks. "Elections at this stage would be quite divisive. We should avoid anything that causes further divisions in this society," Mr Spring said at Stormont.
"It is an issue which divides the communities. We have said that we have no difficulty about discussing all of the issues, but we should be very careful in how we progress issues that actually divide the communities at this stage," he added.
Mr Spring said it was still the "very firm aim" of both governments to get to all party talks by the end of February.
The postponement of the publication of the Mitchell Commission's report "by a few days" did not cause any concern. "We will not lose anything if it is only a matter of a few days," he said.
Mr John Hume, the SDLP leader, welcomed the fact that the trilateral process was now under way. The SDLP focused on fixing a date for all party talks, and on the agenda for such talks which would relate to the three sets of relations on these islands.
"Naturally we hope that the two governments' commitment to a fixed date for talks at the end of, February will be maintained," he said. The SDLP also reiterated its opposition to the election of an assembly, prior to all party talks.
He also again dismissed the unionist call for all parties, particularly Sinn Fein, to demonstrate their democratic mandate through an assembly election ahead of negotiations.
"All party talks should take place and it should be made clear that the outcome of those talks, will be put to the people for their endorsement - that's the way you cover the mandate situation," said Mr Hume.
Mr Spring was accompanied by the Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, and the Minister for Social Welfare and leader of Democratic Left, Mr De Rossa. Sir Patrick Mayhew was with his political development minister, Mr Michael Ancram.
The SDLP was represented by Mr Hume, and MPs Mr Seamus Mallon, Mr Eddie McGrady and Dr Joe Hendron. During the meeting the three sides expressed their "grave concern" at the continuing punishment beatings.
Sinn Fein is due to engage in a tripartite meeting with the two governments tomorrow. The Alliance Party met the two governments in Dublin before Christmas.
In Dungannon Sir Patrick said he was "extremely hopeful" that the decommissioning log jam could be broken by the Mitchell Commission. "I think there are sensible grounds for hoping that they will be able to help the two governments," he added.
