The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister are to seek means to persuade unionist politicians to join the substantive all-party talks in two weeks time after yesterday's historic invitation to Sinn Fein to join the political process.
Following a lengthy telephone discussion between the two men last night, senior officials from the offices of Mr Ahern and Mr Blair will have talks next week on how to start the September 15th talks successfully. However, the decision announced by the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, yesterday to accept the veracity of the IRA ceasefire and invite Sinn Fein to the talks has further highlighted unionist divisions, even within the Ulster Unionist Party which is viewed as crucial to the peace process succeeding.
The UUP may decide by next Saturday whether to participate in the talks. Party leader Mr David Trimble is under considerable pressure not to attend, as his rival parties the Democratic Unionist Party and the UK Unionist Party have already decided to boycott the talks.
Mr Ahern, Dr Mowlam and Sinn Fein's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, described yesterday as "historic". But they acknowledged that the political way ahead is fraught and complex.
Mr Ahern hailed the decision as "historic and unique" and said the political process had reached a position that earlier this summer nobody thought possible. "Now we are there and we must take the next step and I just hope that everyone will take that leap of faith," he said.
Dr Mowlam appealed to unionist and loyalist parties, whatever their suspicions, to engage in inclusive talks involving Sinn Fein. "I know that the road ahead will not be easy", she said.
Sinn Fein is now due to attend plenary talks at Stormont on Tuesday week when it must sign up to the Mitchell principles on democracy and non-violence. Then on Monday, September 15th it will be invited to participate in the start of substantive talks.
It is expected that Mr Blair will meet the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, over this period. Dr Mowlam said such a meeting would take place soon.
Hopes of the process succeeding, or moving forward, now rest with Mr Trimble. The UUP is continuing its consultative process before deciding whether to engage either directly or indirectly in talks with Sinn Fein. Mr Ahern said yesterday he could understand the suspicions of unionists who asked: "Is it [the IRA campaign] gone forever? Will it ever return?" He could not answer those questions but there was now "a unique opportunity to serve the best interests of the people by engaging ourselves in meaningful dialogue on a substantial basis in an inclusive way and that's what we should do."
Those within the UUP who would like the party to become involved in talks had their task made more difficult yesterday by the UUP MP for West Tyrone, Mr William Thompson, who opposed any party engagement in "squalid" talks with Sinn Fein.
While Mr Thompson is viewed as something of a party maverick he nonetheless represents a not insignificant body of opinion within the UUP. Balancing that view, and perhaps even tipping the scales in favour of talks, is a growing bloc of party opinion favouring some sort of participation.
Caught between the two positions, Mr Trimble has signalled that he may tactically try to stall the talks over the issue of paramilitary disarmament. "There is a tendency by some people to talk up September 15th. Life is not as straightforward as that," he said cryptically, without disclosing what position he will take when substantive talks start.
The unionist and loyalist parties have also expressed concern that the British government is shifting its position on the vital issue of consent. Dr Mowlam, while stating that there could be no settlement without the agreement of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland, also stressed that a settlement was only possible if it met the concerns of nationalists.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said unionists should enter inclusive talks and help create a new future which would have the allegiance of everyone. He asked, "What is the unionists' alternative? How do they propose to achieve lasting agreement in our community if they are going to reject the current process?" Last night, a White House spokesman welcomed the decision to invite Sinn Fein to join the talks. There was now "an opportunity for all parties in Northern Ireland to be part of inclusive talks leading to a negotiated settlement," the spokesman said on the island of Martha's Vineyard where President Clinton is on holiday.
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