THE Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, said he has not ruled out talks with Sinn Fein. Answering questions as to whether his party would talk to Sinn Fein if it entered all-party talks, Mr Trimble replied: "Never say never".
Speaking in New York yesterday at a lunch hosted by the American Committee on Foreign Policy, Mr Trimble added: "I suppose that is the most optimistic thing I can say at the moment."
On the issue of decommissioning, Mr Trimble said: "I don't think it is possible as things stand at the moment to actually get a resolution of that issue that all the parties can agree to. On the other hand, it's not necessary to agree as of now. So I say let's pigeon-hole it and if it becomes necessary or relevant at a future point we'll come back to it then. But if we pigeon-hole it now, then there is absolutely no obstacle to entering into substantive negotiations."
Without ruling out talks with Sinn Fein, Mr Trimble said he does not believe Sinn Fein or the IRA "have any real desire to get into the democratic process. It is possible they might. But I think experience indicates they won't".
Describing Sinn Fein and the IRA as parts of the same group, he said: "Sinn Fein/IRA have not shown any signs of becoming democrats. They still retain their core objective to bring about an all-Ireland state, irrespective of the wishes of the people concerned.
"The dominant element within Sinn Fein/IRA is that with the carrot of a ceasefire and the stick of occasional violence they can extract conditions from the United Kingdom."
Addressing an audience which included Mr William J. Flynn chairman of Mutual America, and other prominent Irish-Americans, Mr Trimble told the audience not to be surprised by Monday's killing of two RUC officers.
"It was not a surprise," he said. "For quite some time the IRA have been making determined efforts to murder members of the RUC. Those efforts were put in suspension during the protracted election period. During that period of time the IRA put on hold its attempts to murder people. I think there is no reason to believe Sinn Fein/IRA is going to change its spots.
Asked about the marching season in July, Mr Trimble defended the rights of Orangemen to march, saying: "They are exercising what they regard simply as a right, and the particular flashpoint that is coming up in a week's time amounts to nothing less, nothing more, than men walking home after church. Why that should be regarded as offensive is another issue.