Mr David Trimble and the head of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition, Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, are to finally formally meet in a new initiative aimed at breaking the Drumcree standoff.
The North's First Minister has invited elected representatives from the Portadown area, including the Coalition's two independent councillors, Mr Mac Cionnaith and Mr Joe Duffy, to a meeting early next week. The move was welcomed by the Garvaghy group, the SDLP, Sinn Fein, and Alliance. The Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, called on both sides to engage in "urgent" dialogue, and offered his services to assist such negotiations.
The initial Orange Order response was somewhat contradictory. Mr David Jones, spokesman for the Portadown Orangemen, said Mr Trimble was taking a "positive step. He does seem to be making some move in the local area with regard to getting the situation resolved, if that is at all possible," he added.
However, Mr Denis Watson, the Co Armagh Orange Grand Master, said Mr Jones, who is not an elected politician, could speak for himself but he (Mr Watson) as a member of the Assembly would not be attending the meeting. The DUP Assembly member and Craigavon mayor, Mr Mervyn Carrick, said he would also boycott the talks.
Mr Trimble was being very guarded yesterday about his initiative. It was not helpful to put the discussions in the public arena, he said. "I don't think there are any developments that we can talk about," he added.
But in his letter of invitation to local unionist and nationalist politicians Mr Trimble said: "We are all concerned at the continuing problems facing Portadown and the impact on community relations and the economy of the town. We must remain hopeful that a resolution can be found to the Drumcree-Garvaghy Road standoff. The meeting will be exploratory and if successful might be followed by further meetings."
The meeting is expected to be held in Craigavon Civic Centre, and may be chaired by Mr Trevor Reaney, chief executive of Craigavon Borough Council.
Mr Mac Cionnaith said Garvaghy residents had been seeking a meeting with the local MP Mr Trimble since 1995. The invitation was an "obvious and logical step" for him to take both as First Minister and the local MP.
"We also hope that next week's meeting will complement the process commenced by Frank Blair, with whom we met again on Tuesday of this week," said Mr Mac Cionnaith, referring to the work of the independent mediator appointed by the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair.
The Orange Order and Mr Watson, a member of the United Unionist Assembly Party, also appear to be placing some store on the work of Mr Blair of ACAS (the Arbitration, Conciliation and Advice Centre).
He repeated his claim that opposition to Orangemen parading down Garvaghy Road was being orchestrated by republicans and said he would not sit down with Mr Mac Cionnaith or Mr Duffy.
Both Mr Watson and Mr Carrick added that Mr Trimble appeared to be undermining the work of Mr Blair in seeking a settlement of the Drumcree issue. Mr Watson, despite Mr Jones's comments, said the Orange Order would not be represented, although some of the UUP elected representatives who attend the meeting may be members of the Order. The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said elected unionists had no place at the convened meeting.
Archbishop Robin Eames offered to mediate in any future dialogue between the contending sides. "I am convinced that the vast majority of Protestants and Roman Catholics long to see agreement at Drumcree and on the Garvaghy Road," he said.
The local SDLP Assembly member Ms Brid Rodgers and the Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, welcomed the initiative, and Mr David Ford, the Alliance chief whip, said it was overdue but nonetheless welcome: "It is vital that this issue is resolved before July this year".
