UUP puts proposals to limit Mitchell's talks role

THE Ulster Unionist Party has proposed changes in the Procedural guidelines of the multi party talks, which would transfer most…

THE Ulster Unionist Party has proposed changes in the Procedural guidelines of the multi party talks, which would transfer most of Mr George Mitchell's powers to Gen John de Chastelain, The Irish Times has learned.

Discussions on procedures continued until 9 p.m. last night at Castle Buildings, Stormont, and will resume today. Sources said no agreement had been reached but that Mr Mitchell was preparing a summary of all the proposals. Decisions on procedures are due to be made at tomorrow's plenary session.

Under the UUP proposals, Mr Mitchell would be largely subject to the business committee, which is chaired by Gen de Chastelain. Formerly chief of staff of the Canadian defence forces, the general is favourably regarded by unionist politicians. Unlike Mr Mitchell, he has no ties with the White House or the US Democratic Party. The general is also said to be highly regarded by Sinn Fein.

The UUP has proposed that Mr Mitchell should only be able to convene, postpone or adjourn meetings, con the basis of proposals from the business committee". Made up of representatives of the two governments and the political parties the committee's role is to co ordinate the progress and the procedure of the negotiations.

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The UUP has proposed that Gen de Chastelain's business committee would also determine the venues for meetings. The business committee would draw up the agenda for each meeting and would even be responsible for approving the minutes.

Under the procedures agreed by the Irish and British governments, Mr Mitchell would have the option of setting up a working group to deal with contentious issues. The UUP has proposed reducing this power so that he could only request the business committee to establish a working group".

Mr Mitchell is chairman of the plenary sessions of the talks but, further limiting his powers, the UUP proposes that the number of plenaries be limited to two the opening plenary and the closing plenary. The party further proposes that the chairman's right to request a meeting with one or more of the negotiating teams at any time be modified to give him only the right to "seek" such a meeting.

The UUP also wants changes to the agenda for the start of formal negotiations. The two governments have proposed that discussion of the Mitchell report on decommissioning should be Item Eight on this opening agenda.

However, the UUP wants decommissioning as the first substantive item on the agenda, followed by "decisions on mechanisms to implement commitments on decommissioning" and the establishment of a verification commission to monitor the handover and/or destruction of weapons.

The leader of the UK Unionist Party, Mr Robert McCartney, dismissed the "alleged consultations" over procedures as "essentially fraudulent". He added: "Any changes that Mr Trimble obtains will be minimal window dressing to afford him what the Chinese call a `degree of face'.