Hopes that the Ulster Unionists might actually attend the opening session of talks at Stormont yesterday rose early in the morning but later faded away. However, the party leader, Mr David Trimble, did issue a statement saying that given certain conditions he intended to be at Stormont "as soon as possible".
Ulster Unionists made it clear that the joint statement issued by both governments on the issues of majority consent within Northern Ireland and decommissioning was "encouraging".
The Ulster Unionist leadership met the leaders of the two fringe loyalist parties, the Progressive Unionist Party (which represents the political thinking of the Ulster Volunteer Force) and the Ulster Democratic Party, which is close to the Ulster Defence Association.
It was on their departure from the Glengall Street Ulster Unionist headquarters that it began to become clear there would be no unionist or loyalist representation at yesterday's opening plenary session.
Mr David Ervine, leader of the PUP, said he was going to consult other members of his party and, most importantly, the UVF prisoners in the Maze, "and we will not be going to Stormont today".
Mr Gary McMichael, leader of the UDP, said he too would be talking to "others" and would not be going to Stormont in advance of any final decision by the Ulster Unionists.
There was, however, an expectation that they would still be in talks, possibly later in the week.
Mr McMichael added: "We have said all along there has to be a common approach among the unionist parties to ensure the unionist case is as formidable as possible within any talks process. That was the purpose of the meeting today and it was a satisfactory meeting.".
It was then the turn of the Northern Ireland Office Minister for Political Development, Mr Paul Murphy, who arrived at Glengall Street at 11.15 a.m. to speak to Mr Trimble and say he was there to provide any further clarifications the UUP needed.
About 15 minutes later, Mr Trimble emerged to read a statement.
He welcomed the joint government statement "that consent will be the guiding principle in the talks" and the "clear statement on actual decommissioning during talks - language that the Irish Government would not use in July.
"We agree that this is indispensable," He went on: "We have opened discussions concerning the precise procedural arrangements for our involvement in the multiparty talks.
"Depending on the progress made in these discussions we intend to be at Castle Grounds as soon as possible," he said.