The Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble and Sinn Fein President Mr Gerry Adams have agreed to hold talks in an attempt to deal with the crisis in the Northern Ireland peace process.
The Northern Ireland First Minister and Mr Adams are due to meet in Stormont during a week of frenetic diplomatic activity in Belfast, London and Dublin.
Mr Trimble faces a crucial meeting of his party's ruling council on September 21st which will consider whether the party should remain in the Stormont power-sharing government with Sinn Féin.
UUP members have expressed concern about power sharing after allegations of ongoing IRA activity.
The IRA has been accused of being behind the break-in at Castlereagh Police Station in March and of forging close links with the Colombian paramilitary group FARC and maintaining links with other international terrorists.
Republicans have denied the allegations. They say loyalist paramilitaries have orchestrated street violence in Belfast during the summer and accuse certain elements in the security services of being behind the Castlereagh break-in.
Today's meeting between Mr Trimble and Mr Adams precedes a round of talks involving British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Northern Ireland parties, including a meeting with the nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan tomorrow.
United States President George W Bush's special adviser in Northern Ireland Richard Haass is also due in the province on Thursday to meet the Northern Ireland parties and the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will hold talks in Dublin with Northern Ireland politicians later this week. PA