The Sinn Fein chairman yesterday ruled out proximity talks at next month's Stormont talks. Mr Mitchel McLaughlin said his party would be at the September 15th talks and he called on the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, to announce in advance that his party would also attend.
"Our position all along is that there will be no viable talks process without us and I am confident that we will be there. The Ulster Unionist Party should be at the same table. They should cease their procrastination.
"The tensions and uneasiness within loyalism and unionism would be reduced if David Trimble takes a decisive position and announces that he will be there. He should give leadership because that is what he was elected to do."
Asked what his party would do if the Ulster Unionists pushed for proximity talks on September 15th instead of face-to-face talks with Sinn Fein, Mr McLaughlin said such a situation would be unacceptable to his party. "It would not be a viable talks process. My answer to proximity talks is a flat no. This will require face-to-face negotiations. How can there be confidence-building measures by proxy?
"David Trimble is talking nonsense if he thinks anyone would accept that that kind of alternative would be a viable alternative. There has to be talks across the table. Let David Trimble, if he has the confidence in his argument, present his case."