The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, has defended his decision to meet the Taoiseach later this week against strong criticism from the DUP. He said he was attempting to establish whether the Government was really interested in a peace settlement.
Mr Trimble was speaking as a round of bilateral talks involving all the political parties began at Stormont Castle yesterday. Sources from both governments said the dialogue, which took place outside the negotiating chamber, had been positive and businesslike.
Both governments are keen to ensure progress and prevent divisions within the republican movement escalating. Speaking to reporters, Mr Trimble said he was meeting Mr Ahern on Thursday to establish if Dublin was interested in "conquest or stability". He had seen nothing in Government documents that showed any "real commitment to the necessary changes that have to take place".
Articles Two and Three of the Constitution had to be removed, he added. Mr Trimble said he hoped to clarify matters when he met Mr Ahern. "We have felt for some time that we needed to get clearer specifics on where they are. It is essential that we know that they are prepared to normalise relationships. We have got to see whether the Irish are interested in stability or conquest." The meeting will be held in London. The DUP secretary, Mr Nigel Dodds, said it was just another UUP "antic". He added: "If David Trimble will confront Dublin in the same way that he has confronted Sinn Fein at Stormont, it will be a damp squib."
Round-table discussions involving all the parties at Stormont have been suspended for the next fortnight in order to allow the political parties to hold bilateral meetings as well as discussions with the chairman, Senator George Mitchell, on the way forward.
This week the participants are discussing Strand Two, covering North-South relationships. The SDLP yesterday met the UUP, the British government, and Senator Mitchell. The UUP held talks with the Government and the Government also met the Alliance Party. Both governments later held talks with Senator Mitchell.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said he expected that progress would be made at the bilaterals that "will be the basis on which we can build an agreement". A British government spokesman described yesterday's meetings as "intensive and constructive".
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, said he was heartened by the progress made. "There is a new urgency and impetus to the talks. I am glad that we have moved from the plenary session to bilaterals. Our meeting with the UUP was helpful and useful. I am sure that the people who elect us will be glad to hear such an optimistic message."
Mr Andrews, who stayed in the North overnight, will take part in another round of bilaterals today. He said progress during these discussions could hold the key to the whole process and hoped that Mr Trimble's meeting with the Taoiseach would help address concerns by both sides.
The North's Minister for Political Development, Mr Paul Murphy, said the next fortnight would be a "testing time", with the parties setting out their positions in detail. When asked about the risk of fragmentation within the republican movement, he said: "Obviously my concern is that Sinn Fein speaks only for half its party, but the impression I have been given over the past few days is that they are not divided."