The Progressive Unionist Party's executive council voted yesterday to return to the Northern Ireland talks process, saying it had decided to give both governments "an opportunity to prove their sincerity" on assurances given to the party.
The PUP leader, Mr David Ervine, said the decision was taken despite "reservations about the quality and integrity" of answers given to the party by the British and Irish governments.
He also said that no date had been set for a further review of the process by the party.
At a press conference to announce the decision, Mr Ervine said that both governments had given "fairly concrete assurances" that all confidence-building measures would in future "be firmly housed within the process".
They had also indicated that measures were currently being taken to ensure that these assurances would be put into practice as soon as possible, he said.
"We see that as a gain, not for us, but for the process," Mr Ervine said. "If we are treated abysmally, as we have been in the past, then unfortunately it would have serious difficulties for the Progressive Unionist Party," he added.
A majority of the party's 35member executive committee voted in favour of returning to the talks, but Mr Ervine refused to say what the margin was.
A leading member of the party, Mr Billy Hutchinson, said he had voted against returning, but that he would stand "100 per cent" by the decision of the executive council.
"It was a democratic decision. I voted against and lost, and I have to live with that. I hope that both the British and Irish governments actually take heed of this statement, and that they put right all the wrongs they have already admitted," Mr Hutchinson said. He added that he would be at Castle Buildings when the talks resumed today, but feared things would continue to happen "outside the process".
Mr Ervine said the core issues discussed by the executive committee were that confidence-building measures were being addressed outside the process, and that all parties at the talks were not being treated fairly or equally.
It was felt that the two governments were following "the politics of demand from some participants to the exclusion and marginalisation of others". While some assurances had been given in relation to this, it remained to be seen "whether things will change for the better".
Last night the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, welcomed the PUP decision, saying it would allow the party "to continue to make its positive contribution to the talks, which is vital". Mr Andrews met PUP leaders in Hillsborough, Co Down, last Wednesday.
The PUP, which has links with the UVF, expressed anger in December that parties in the talks process were not informed in advance of the Government's decision to release IRA prisoners from Portlaoise Prison.
Mr Ervine said yesterday that the issues of prisoner releases and the maintenance of the UVF ceasefire "whilst vitally important, were never an issue".
He said the visit by the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, to the Maze Prison had not been a factor in his party's decision. UVF prisoners had not asked to meet Dr Mowlam, he said.
"We recognise that the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland desire a peaceful settlement, and the prisoners that we represent in Long Kesh have clearly stated that Northern Ireland's constitutional position and the dream of peace come first, and that they are a secondary issue," said Mr Ervine.
He said the party believed that the vision for "a decent and honourable settlement" was possible if people were committed to it.
In relation to measures being taken by the two governments, Mr Ervine, said they had "seen little and heard a lot".
He said there was nothing new to the party in recent press reports about a proposed Council of Isles.