The Belfast Agreement needs to be implemented in full regardless of who leads the Ulster Unionist Party, Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid said today.
It has also been confirmed the DUP has been invited to hold talks with the British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair. The news follows last night's announcement that a meeting between the main pro-agreement parties and the British and Irish governments takes place next Monday.
Dr Reid, who was visiting the site of a new community centre in north Belfast, said it was vital all outstanding issues in the peace process were addressed over the coming weeks in talks involving the Northern Ireland parties.
Responding to reports that anti-agreement Ulster Unionist members were planning to oust Mr Trimble at their ruling council's annual general meeting tomorrow week, Dr Reid said: "Matters of the Ulster Unionist Party are for the Ulster Unionist Party.
"David has made his position plain. It is for him to respond to that and for his party to make their own decision as he himself has said.
"This isn't a matter of personalities - it is a matter of an agreement made supported and backed by all the people of Northern Ireland in which some of that agreement has been implemented.
"We have come a fair way on all of the issues. We have had the arms dumps of the IRA opened up, we have established the beginnings of the North-South Ministerial Council and for our part we have reduced troops from a height of 26,000 down to 13,000 with many closures.
"But we have still a long way to go on all of those issues and irrespective of who's doing it we have to do it."
Dr Reid confirmed talks between British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair and DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley would take place soon.
He said no party was being excluded from the talks and plans for a meeting between Mr Blair and the DUP would be arranged later today.
Mr Blair and Mr Ahern announced last night from the summit of EU leaders in Gothenburg in Sweden they would take part in talks to break the stalemate in the peace process in Downing Street on Monday.
The Ulster Unionists, Sinn Féin and the SDLP would participate, they confirmed.
DUP Minister Mr Gregory Campbell confirmed today his party had been approached about a meeting with Mr Blair. "An approach has been made to the party which is no real surprise because the Government cannot ignore our vote."
PA