The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, held "friendly, detailed and constructive" talks at Stormont yesterday with Mr David Trimble and Mr Seamus Mallon and most of the Northern parties. The three leaders appeared to be focusing on a strategy of creating movement in other important areas of the agreement, such as North-South structures to help create the foundation for subsequent movement on paramilitary disarmament.
Mr Ahern was warmly welcomed by Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon. Their handshake for the cameras at the entrance to Parliament Buildings was notable for its warmth and lack of tension. It was the first time that leaders from the North and South had met at this venue Stormont since the late Sean Lemass and the late Unionist Prime Minister, Terence O'Neill met there in 1965.
The focus of yesterday's meeting was North-South co-operation and the identification and agreement on future quasi-autonomous all-Ireland implementation bodies and North-South arrangements.
Mr Ahern said the next stage was to finalise agreement on the various North-South structures so that the necessary legislation to facilitate the North-South council could be in place by February, when the official executive is due to be created.
The meetings involved the Northern parties and the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, and Ms Liz O'Donnell, Minister of State.
Inevitably, decommissioning was mentioned. Mr Trimble indicated some willingness to temporarily "manoeuvre around the issue of decommissioning". He did not rule out or rule in" the possibility of nominating a shadow executive to include Sinn Fein members.
Such an executive, however, would fall or Sinn Fein would be expelled from it, if decommissioning had not begun by February, it was suggested. "I am neither ruling out nor ruling in these particular devices until I have had a chance to focus upon them and think about them," Mr Trimble said.
Mr Trimble said he welcomed the opportunity to have serious discussions with Mr Ahern and the Irish Government on North-South co-operation. He complained, however, that Sinn Fein was not seriously engaging with the current discussions.
"There is a certain ominous tone coming to some of the Sinn Fein statements which we find unhelpful. We notice a disengagement of Sinn Fein leadership . . . an ominous line is beginning to creep into some of the language of Sinn Fein," he added.
Mr Trimble accused the IRA and the UVF and UDA of defaulting on their obligation to begin decommissioning. "While we may have to wait [for decommissioning] we should not have to wait. They should be acting and the matter should be dealt with now."
The talks involving the Taoiseach continued until late last night. Before returning home Mr Ahern dined with the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam.
