MR David Trimble this morning warns both governments that the Ulster Unionists will not adopt "a different approach" to the talks process as a result of events this summer.
In a wide-ranging interview for The Irish Times, the Ulster Unionist leader also rules out a different approach to any second IRA ceasefire, questions the Taoiseach's influence over his government's policy on the North, and robustly defends his role in the events at Drumcree last July.
Placing the Drumcree march in a wider political context - in the process underlining its continuing importance for his leadership Mr Trimble says: "Drumcree has acquired within the unionist community a symbolic significance which is detached from the particular merits or demerits of that situation."
Unionists and Orangemen, says Mr Trimble, had decided Drumcree was "a marker" to demonstrate their concern that "the British Government has continually surrendered and retreated to a republican/ nationalist offensive
On the eve of the resumed multi-party talks at Stormont, Mr Trimble says his party will continue to make "a positive contribution". But he tells policy makers in both governments not to imagine that it will be reflected in a different approach. "That would be a mistake," he says "We will be positive...but we're not there to be ordered about by other people."
In the interview - it marks the first anniversary of his election as UUP leader - Mr Trimble repeats his opposition to the Joint Framework proposals and rejects many suggestion of an "imposed" solution.
The Ulster Unionist leader argues that agreement between the main parties in the North is integral to the "consent" principle. And he warns a future Labour government in Britain against thinking "that it satisfies the consent principle by operating by way of referenda". Says Mr Trimble: "If you've got a situation where some of the major elements in society are strongly opposed to what you're doing, it doesn't matter even if you manage a narrow majority in a referendum."
Highly critical of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Trimble accepts Mr Bruton's"bona fides" but says: "I have never actually seen him have an impact on his Government's Northern Ireland policy ... My contacts with him always gave me the impression of him being detached."
And Mr Trimble suggests that Mr John Hume "rather than democratise Sinn Fein ... has republicanised the SDLP and undermined its position".