Both British and Irish Ministers urged unionists to rejoin the Stormont talks process after yesterday's decision by Sinn Fein to affirm the Mitchell principles of non-violence and join the process. None of the unionist or loyalist parties attended yesterday's preliminary session of the Stormont talks. A group of more than 100 people associated with the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) - the political wing of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) - held a protest at the entrance to Stormont about the treatment of loyalist prisoners.
The Northern Ireland parties who participated in yesterday morning's two-hour session were the SDLP, Sinn Fein, the Alliance Party, the Women's Coalition and the Labour group.
Mr Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein leader, whose presence led to the unionist boycott, emerged from the talks last night to say he was disappointed that the unionists were not present. He said his party was "wedded to the democratic process" and wished to see total demilitarisation in the North.
After yesterday's session, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, and the Northern Ireland Minister for Political Development, Mr Paul Murphy, restated their commitment to the process and urged unionists to join in.
Mr Burke stressed to the unionists that any agreement reached at Stormont would have to have the consent of a majority in Northern Ireland. "It is quite clear that consent is essential. It can only be agreed by the majority of those within Northern Ireland."
Any agreement, Mr Burke and Mr Murphy pointed out, would be put to simultaneous referenda in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
The Ministers were asked about speculation that unionists would only participate if the talks were on a "proximity" basis and that they did not have to sit in the same room as Sinn Fein. Both said they believed the current format, where all the parties sat around one table, was the best way forward.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said the talks were a major opportunity "for the first time in our history, to reach agreement on all of our key relationships and therefore provide the fundamental basis for lasting stability".
He urged unionists to participate, saying they had already sat down with Sinn Fein in the local council chambers.
He said if the unionists did not participate it would be "for governments to govern"; that the process would continue; and any agreement would be put to the electorate.
"The road to agreement will be a long and hard one. All parties must enter this process dedicated to reaching an agreement which can then be put to the people of Ireland, North and South, in referenda held on the same day.
"The challenge, as we enter into these historic talks, is to produce new proposals which will accommodate the two sets of legitimate rights - of both sections of our community - so that we will have a final agreement that will have the total loyalty of all sections of our people. It is obvious that the best way to achieve this goal is for all parties to be at the table."
Mr Murphy said it was a very important day, although it was "unfortunate" that the unionists were not present. Substantive talks begin on Monday, he said, involving future arrangements for Northern Ireland and it was very important that all parties took part.
He said all the parties had been elected to participate in a talks process and it was important that they participated in the present structure.
During yesterday morning's session, the Sinn Fein delegation, led by Mr Adams, affirmed the "Mitchell Principles" - the set of criteria under which parties may become involved in the process through renouncing the use of violence.
Mr Burke welcomed Sinn Fein's entry into the negotiations. "It has always been the aim of the Irish Government to have negotiations, fully inclusive of all the relevant parties, which conform to the basic norms of democracy. We now have open before us the unprecedented prospect of genuinely inclusive negotiations, conducted in an atmosphere of peace.
"As our distinguished chairman has emphasised, this is a combination and a set of circumstances that we have never had since the Northern Ireland troubles commenced almost 30 years ago. Indeed, these negotiations have the capacity to be the most significant since those that led to the AngloIrish Treaty in 1921.
"As the Taoiseach said last Friday evening, it would be sadly ironic if, now that all the passengers have a ticket and the train is about to leave the station, some of the passengers who have been on the train for some time were to step back down onto the platform. No party should allow the interests of those it represents to go by default.
"Sinn Fein have now, as all the other participants did previously, made clear in open session in these talks their total and absolute commitment to the six Mitchell Principles. On behalf of the Irish Government, I greatly welcome that declaration which is a watershed in the history and politics of Ireland."
Mr Adams said the British government had "narrowed the brief" of the Mitchell Principles. Sinn Fein wanted "all guns taken out of Irish politics".
"We want a total demilitarisation of the situation. We want total disarmament and also, on the issue of prisoners, we want them all released."
He said the British government should look at the issue of prisoners in a spirit of generosity. He also urged that the British respond to the loyalist parties' demands on prisoner releases.
The Alliance Party leader, Lord Alderdice, said he was "tremendously encouraged" by what had taken place during the morning. Sinn Fein had made "very interesting" remarks about decommissioning but would not reveal any further detail about what they had said.
He believed the talks would continue and "are not going to suddenly collapse because some people don't have the courage or wit to join in".