THE Ulster Unionist leadership will continue to demand elections to a Northern Ireland assembly as a vehicle for talks, following today's publication of the international body's report on disarmament.
Senior party sources confirmed this last night, as further details emerged of the likely recommendations of the three man body, to be introduced at a press conference in Belfast at 10 a.m. by former Senator George Mitchell.
It is understood, as previously reported in The Irish Times, that Mr Mitchell's report will stop short of recommending an "elective process" in the North.
However, sources say he will report the views presented to him, suggesting that "an elected body" could contribute to building confidence, provided it operates within the "three stranded" talks process previously agreed between the parties and the British and Irish governments.
Senior unionists said this would remain the focus of political discussion, given the body's expected conclusion that the so called Washington 3 test demanding a start to decommissioning ahead of all party talks can not be met.
Sources suggest the Mitchell report will describe Britain's decommissioning demand as a reasonable requirement, while reinforcing "the reality" that it cannot be achieved as a precondition for talks.
The sources also confirmed yesterday's report in The Irish Times that Mr Mitchell and his colleagues may recommend some hand over of weapons, as an assurance of democratic bona fides, after the commencement of talks. However, the question of the timing of such a move is said to remain unresolved.
The expectation is that the body will make specific and detailed recommendations for a staged or progressive decommissioning process, to take place in parallel to political talks again with the exact relationship between the two processes, and the timing, left for further negotiation.
It is understood the Mitchell report will contain a new formulation on the "consent" principle, rather than replicate that used in the Downing Street Declaration. And there was considerable anger in unionist circles last night as it emerged that the word "consent" does not actually appear in the text.
In addition to proposed "modalities" for a future decommissioning process, verifiable by an independent third party, the report is expected to require all parties to commit themselves to a set of principles "of non violence and democracy".
These are understood to include an absolute commitment to peaceful methods a commitment by paramilitary organisations to total disarmament a renunciation of any attempt at or suggestion of the use of force for political ends a commitment to accept any settlement emerging from any negotiations and to seek any future variation of such a settlement only by peaceful methods.
In addition, the report is said to demand an immediate halt to all so called "punishment" beatings, and to stipulate tough requirements in respect of other continuing paramilitary activities.
One Irish source last night said the report would be "tough enough" for Sinn Fein, while believing Mr Mitchell would succeed in moving the peace process forward.
Accepting that the reference to a possible assembly was "one of the things we're going to have to stomach", the source predicted the British and Irish governments would have an agreed response before today's expected ministerial replies in the Dail and House of Commons.