A Sinn Fein delegation is expected to visit IRA prisoners in English prisons next week as British army and RUC security measures in the North are being wound down in the wake of the IRA ceasefire.
Senior Sinn Fein member, Mr Pat Doherty, said yesterday that the visit to the republican prisoners in Britain had been negotiated with British officials during yesterday's talks at Stormont. He said the visit and the repatriation and parole of prisoners were viewed as an important "confidence building" measure.
Mr Doherty met the independent chairmen of the talks yesterday but said decommissioning was not mentioned. He said he hoped to see substantial negotiations with unionists begin in September. However, unionists are still demanding that decommissioning of IRA weapons take place during the course of any talks. The Ulster Unionists are also seeking clarification from the Government that the gun shipment found in Dublin Port last Friday was not bound for the IRA.
The Ulster Unionist negotiator, Mr John Taylor MP, emerged from yesterday's plenary session of the talks saying his delegation had sought and received an assurance from the Irish governmental delegation that it would discover which paramilitary group was responsible for attempting to smuggle the 20 handguns which were found in a container.
Mr Taylor said: "If they were going to Provisional IRA then it is clear that the Secretary of State cannot involve Sinn Fein in talks in September." He said the Irish delegation, led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, gave a commitment that it would clarify which group was responsible for attempting to smuggle the arms.
Mr Taylor said that "on balance" he was pessimistic about the prospects for a resolution of the decommissioning issue. The party says it will require commitments from both governments on the issue before it will take part in substantive talks.
Mr Burke made no comment on emerging from yesterday's session at Stormont, the last before it is due to reconvene in August for supposedly substantive talks.
The Secretary of State, Dr Mo Mowlam, yesterday announced a reduction in the level of British army and RUC security in response to the calling of the latest IRA ceasefire.
The "de-escalatory measures" would include a reduction in military patrolling in Belfast city centre, in adjacent areas and south Antrim; reduction of mobile patrolling in all areas; and the relaxing of physical security measures in provincial town centres. These measures, she said, could be reversed immediately if there was a threat to the lives of security force members or the public.
Both governments have indicated they hope decommissioning will take place in a parallel process to the talks as outlined by conditions drawn up by Senator Mitchell.
The SDLP and Alliance parties took part in yesterday's session, both emerging to say it was imperative that substantive talks began on the reconvening of the talks on September 15th.
The fringe unionist parties, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and UK Unionists did not participate in yesterday's talks because of Sinn Fein's presence.
Also yesterday, the Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, Dr Sam Hutchinson, said he believed there was unionist willingness to begin talks with nationalists. But, he said, there needed to be reassurance that there was not a "one-way street" to a united Ireland.
Meanwhile, Mr Burke will have an informal meeting with Dr Mowlam in Dublin this morning to review the two governments' strategy in the run-up to substantive all-party talks in September.
A key factor to be considered by the two ministers will be how they can bring the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, to the talks table on that date.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, said there were signs that Sinn Fein was serious about seeking a negotiated solution to the troubles in Northern Ireland.
Mr Blair expressed cautious optimism about the peace process in an interview issued today in the Daily Mirror following the new IRA ceasefire announced this month.
".. that (the ceasefire) at least is proof that there is some serious intent and desire by Sinn Fein to pursue the democratic path," he said.
Mr Blair also praised the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, for continuing to take part in multi-party peace talks.