THE Workers' Party yesterday stressed to the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, that all viewpoints should be represented at all party negotiations in the North, and proposed that the churches, the trade union movement and community organisations should be included in such talks.
Delegations from the Workers' Party, and from the fringe loyalist parties, the PUP and UDP, yesterday had separate meetings with the Northern Secretary their first meetings in the groundwork talks which have followed the launch of the twin track strategy.
The WP chairman, Mr Tom French, described his delegation's meeting with Sir Patrick as "a constructive, meaningful meeting and a frank exchange of views". He said they had emphasised that the all party talks should not just consider constitutional issues and political structures, but should also deal with the legacy of 25 years of violence, social and economic, matters, and the necessity for measures to overcome the divisive and sectarian nature of Northern society.
The WP is to have a series of further meetings with the Northern Secretary and is to meet the Government in Dublin next Friday.
The UDP and PUP delegations exchanged views with Sir Patrick on issues including the format and structure of all party negotiations. The question of a role for an elected body was also covered.