The Ulster Unionist Party has decided to boycott today's review of the Belfast Agreement at Stormont because it claimed the British and Irish governments were not properly addressing the critical issue of continuing paramilitary violence.
The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, and the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, will chair the review talks at Stormont today.
The agenda is North-South and British-Irish issues, although the report of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) censuring Sinn Féin and the Progressive Unionist Party over continuing IRA and loyalist violence could dominate proceedings.
A senior delegation of UUP politicians, led by former minister Mr Michael McGimpsey, met Mr Murphy yesterday to discuss the fallout from the IMC report and the substance of today's review. Afterwards, however, the UUP, unhappy with Mr Murphy's response, said it would not attend the review today.
"We did not hear enough from the Secretary of State to warrant a UUP return to the review. We maintain there is absolutely no point in taking part in discussions on the different sections of the agreement while the main sticking point - ongoing paramilitarism - remains unresolved," said Mr McGimpsey.
"Until this issue is addressed in a satisfactory manner, the Ulster Unionist Party will not be taking part in any review. The onus is now on the governments, in light of the IMC report, to act with integrity and purpose in putting an end to paramilitary activity," he added.
Meanwhile, the SDLP welcomed the reconvening of the review, which is due to conclude with one further meeting next Tuesday. Former SDLP minister Dr Seán Farren said the only way of fully reactivating the Belfast Agreement was by the governments and the parties "knuckling down" to talks.
"We are determined not to allow North-South issues be held to ransom again the way that David Trimble did in the last administration. And we are determined that the DUP must end their ridiculous boycott of North-South meetings," he said.
"There must be no more opt-outs or cop-outs. The DUP must take their seats in the executive. All unionist parties must work the North-South agenda. And Sinn Féin must take their seats on the Policing Board. That will be our message to the governments," added Dr Farren.
