A GOVERNMENT spokesman said last night the Government's meeting with Mr David Trimble would be in an atmosphere where the interests they shared were greater than the differences. One of its aims would be to identify common concerns and put a shape on them, writes Geraldine Kennedy.
Next Monday's meeting will be the first occasion on which Mr Trimble and the UUP delegation will meet the Government as a whole. Mr Bruton, Mr Spring and Mr De Rossa have met Mr Trimble separately on previous occasions since his election as leader of the Ulster Unionists.
Asked to comment on Mr Gerry Adams's report that the IRA would be prepared to continue "the war" for another 25 years, the Government spokesman said Sinn Fein had now been given specific assurances on all party talks without preconditions and the Government would urge Mr Adams and Sinn Fein to address themselves to that. The report in the Irish Voice confirmed that the IRA meeting with Mr Hume and Mr Adams had taken place without a copy of last week's joint communique, he added.
The general secretary of Fine Gael, Mr Jim Miley, announced yesterday that Sinn Fein representatives had been invited to attend the party's Ardfheis in Dublin at the weekend.