UUP, DUP say they will not attend Stormont talks

THE two main unionist parties have decided to spurn invitations to Monday's "proximity" talks at Castle Building in Stormont.

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have cited various practical reasons for avoiding the venue, although the presence of the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, is understood to be an important factor explaining their absence.

The UUP leader Mr David Trimble has instructed UUP members not to attend the Stormont consultation process, according to party secretary Mr Jim Wilson. The DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley said he would "not be occupying the elaborate suite of offices prepared for Dick Spring and his followers.

Mr Trimble and Dr Paisley said they would meet British government ministers at Westminster. Both the DUP and UUP have however signalled willingness to engage in bilateral talks with other parties in Northern Ireland in the lead up to Wednesday March 13th, but not at Castle Buildings.

This is the date set out in the Anglo Irish communique when all parties must agree proposals for a new elective process and all party negotiations, and consider whether dual peace referenda will be held in the North and South.

The British government has set aside much of Castle Buildings at Stormont for all the parties prepared to engage in the "proximity" talks starting on Monday. So far the two governments, the SDLP, Alliance and loyalist fringe parties have indicated they will attend.

A room is set aside for Sinn Fein although it is still unclear whether it will be present on Monday. If the ceasefire remains broken it could only talk to the two governments at civil servant level.

Mr Trimble met the Alliance Party leader Dr John Alderdice at UUP headquarters yesterday during which the two politicians agreed that the IRA's refusal so far to resume the ceasefire and Sinn Fein's distrust of elements of the communique must not be allowed to hold up political progress.

Dr Alderdice said the must be left open for Sinn Fein "if they accept democracy". But, they could not stall political progress.

Mr Trimble said if the ceasefire were not restored and Sinn Fein did not make a commitment, to democracy they would be isolated. "There is a timetable and a date which sets a limit to how long and how far they can prevaricate," Mr Trimble said.

Sinn Fein's ard comhairle met in Dublin yesterday to discuss future strategy in light of the Bruton Major communique. Beforehand, party president Mr Gerry Adams said Mr Major's "sick joke" comment in Bangkok, about Thursday's IRA statement, which did not mention a ceasefire, was "unhelpful".

"This is a time for politicians and particularly political leaders to be measured in what we say. Our focus must remain on the central objective and overriding need to rebuild the peace process," Mr Adams said.

Subsequently, it appears that Mr Major was assured that a true definitive response to the communique will be forthcoming from the IRA, although that is unlikely to occur in the coming days.

The DUP so far has stated it will not be present at all party talks involving Sinn Fein unless the IRA dismantles and "surrenders" its arms.

Mr Trimble said his party would engage in "some form of proximity talks" with Sinn Fein to discuss the first items on the agenda the six Mitchell principles and decommissioning.

Mr John Taylor, the deputy Ulster Unionist leader, took particular issue with comments by Mr Spring on Thursday when he said that the decommissioning issue would not have to be resolved in isolation from other questions in all party talks.

While the London communique places the six Mitchell peace principles and decommissioning top of the talks agenda, Mr Spring said it would be "unrealistic to expect that any one issue, or complex of issues . . . will be full settled and resolved on its own and in advance of others".

Mr Taylor accused Mr Spring this interpretation, of creating new obstacles to political progress. "The modalities of decommissioning must be agreed before we proceed to other issues. Dick Spring, by his remarks, is laying the foundation of a political impasse" said the Strangford MP.

He and his leader Mr David Trimble had no difficulty talking to Mr Spring or other members of the Dublin Government but in such an encounter, internal Northern Ireland matters could not be raised. And such restricted meetings could only take place in Belfast or London as it would be unsafe for him or Mr Trimble to travel south because of the collapse of the ceasefire, Mr Taylor added.

Mr Mark Durkan, the senior SDLP figure, said Mr Taylors refusal to meet Mr Spring to discuss various matters, including those relating to Northern Ireland, proved the merit of his party's concerns over an elective process that would lead to a new forum or assembly as favoured by the UUP and DUP.

This proved, Mr Durkan said, that the main unionist parties wanted to wrest control of the three strand process from the two governments and have it grudgingly and solely addressed by an internal Northern Ireland elected body, where unionists would have a majority.

"That is why an election must be to establish chairs at an all party negotiating table, rather than seats in a chamber," said Mr Durkan.

The Northern Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew and Mr Spring will meet at Castle Building at II a.m. on Monday. In the afternoon other parties will be invited to the venue for bilateral and later multilateral consultations.

Meetings will continue until Wednesday when the two governments hope a useful form of inter party "networking" will haven been established, to allow enhanced progress in the run up to the deadline of Wednesday, March 13th.

The largest and "plushiest" suites of office have been set aside for Mr Spring and Sir Patrick Mayhew, with Sir Patrick on the top floor and the Tanaiste, complete with door name plate marked "Tanaiste", below him.