The Stormont negotiations are expected to move into a higher gear this afternoon when the parties meet to discuss the set of propositions put to them by the Irish and British governments.
Most participants, including the UUP and the SDLP, responded favourably to the proposals for discussion but Sinn Fein reserved its position. Republicans were privately concerned over what they saw as the "unionist" flavour of the document but expressed their determination to remain in the talks.
The document, entitled "Propositions on Heads of Agreement" includes proposals for changes in Articles 2 and 3 of Bunreacht na hEireann and Britain's Government of Ireland Act 1920, "based on commitment to the principle of consent in all its aspects".
A joint British-Irish statement stressed the two-page document was "only the outline of an acceptable agreement". The proposals include a Northern Ireland Assembly, elected by proportional representation, and "a new British-Irish Agreement to replace the existing Anglo-Irish Agreement".
On the key issue of cross-border relations, the governments propose "A North/South Ministerial Council to bring together those with executive responsibilities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government in particular areas".
An intergovernmental council dealing with "the totality of relationships" would hold summit meetings twice a year and include representatives of the parliaments in Dublin and London and the new assemblies in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
The propositions were described by officials as "the two governments' best guess as to where the outlines of an agreement might lie".
Already unionists are arguing that, under the terms of the document, the cross-border body is subject to the control of the British-Irish regional council but nationalists insist it is a "standalone" institution. The joint statement from the two governments said, somewhat ambiguously, that these bodies would operate independently "in their designated areas of responsibility".
There was concern that if Sinn Fein rejected the document and walked out of the talks, the IRA ceasefire would come to an end. The party's chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said Sinn Fein would discuss the paper but he cautioned against any "dilution" of the 1995 Framework Document published by the two governments.
Privately, republicans were describing the proposals as "a sop to David Trimble to keep him in the talks". The two governments had retreated from the Framework proposals, particularly on the issue of a cross-border institution with executive powers.
Republicans said the two governments had "leaned over too far in the unionist direction" but the proposals were not set in stone. They would fight their corner in the talks and would not walk out because that would only play into unionist hands.
Despite their strong reservations, republicans derived some comfort from the undertaking to change British constitutional legislation on the North, from proposals to safeguard human, civil and cultural rights, and from proposals to deal with issues such as prisoners and "security in all its aspects".
Production of the document came after a weekend of highly intense political and diplomatic activity in which the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, were heavily involved. "Blair took a very prominent role in bringing Trimble on that last few inches," sources in the talks said.
"There has been a breakthrough," the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, told reporters. "I don't know how big, but it's there. People are willing to come back tomorrow to talk about it."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews said: "This is a very good day - we have produced a road map to a new agreement."
The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, said: "The Irish Government have acknowledged the reality that we are looking at a United Kingdom outcome."
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume welcomed the document: "It is addressing the central issues and the central relationships that go to the heart of our problems."
Last night Prersident Clinton welcomed the governments' initiative in presenting their proposals and encouraged the participants to "seize the moment and begin negotiating details of an agreement."