THERE were sharp exchanges between the leaders of the DUP and the Ulster Unionist Party at the Northern Ireland Forum yesterday over the Government's role in negotiating the decommissioning of weapons.
As Mr David Trimble defended his discussions with Dublin on decommissioning, the Rev Ian Paisley said that negotiating with the Government was like discussing with Hitler "better terms for the annihilation of the Jews".
The leader of the Alliance party, Lord Alderdice, expressed pessimism about the future of the talks, which he believed were likely to collapse.
Mr Hugh Smyth of the fringe loyalist group, the Progressive Unionist Party, appealed to the UUP and DUP leaders not to allow the talks process to collapse over decommissioning. He said the row was really about the UUP and the DUP "watching their backs" because a general election was looming.
The Ulster Unionists had put down a motion for discussion on decommissioning. In it they said there had been some progress in the talks, a view that was derided by most of the other parties.
The UUP leader reiterated his view that the question of decommissioning was a litmus test of intention. Realistically "we are unlikely to succeed in total disarmament" but "the question is not quantity but quality, and quality as an indicator of intention" he said.
Mr Trimble said his party made no apology for including the Government in discussions on decommissioning. "Everybody knows that the bulk of the illegal weaponry that has to be decommissioned is in the Republic and if there is going to be actual decommissioning, much of it therefore will take place in the Republic."
He added: "We thought it essential to satisfy ourselves as to the commitment of the Irish Government to decommissioning and the arrangements that they have made.
But his feeling after talks was that Irish Government representatives were being evasive in the matter. "In some respects there was clear evidence of bad faith."
Dr Paisley, however, said that "you might as well discuss with Hitler about better terms for the annihilation of Jews as discuss with southern Ireland the way forward for Northern Ireland."
Ms Monica McWilliams of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition asked Dr Paisley if he did not believe it was objectionable to compare Hitler and fascism with the Government of the Republic of Ireland. He replied: "Certainly not" and said: "The honourable lady must be living in some cuckoo land of her own.
Lord Alderdice said there was nothing to be encouraged about in the talks. "They are not moving forward. Not only are they grinding to a halt but there is a very real likelihood that they will fall to pieces over the next period of time.
Mr Hugh Smyth of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) said that the argument over decommissioning by the DUP and Ulster Unionists was "all about keeping Sinn Fein out. But more than that they are prepared to sacrifice my party and Gary McMichael's party (Ulster Democratic Party)."
He went on: "Why can we not try to arrive at a voluntary situation where people will have no need for arms? They may well be very, very glad to hand over the weapons. But that will not come overnight."
He appealed to Mr Trimble "at this late hour" not to make a mistake. Just because it was getting near a general election they should not start looking over their shoulder wondering if the DUP would steal a seat.
