Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionists will advance the peace process today with separate statements on the controversial issues of devolution and decommissioning. A brief IRA statement backing the Sinn Fein leadership is to follow later in the week. The statements are part of a process expected to lead to the formation of a new power-sharing executive by December 8th.
The Sinn Fein statement is believed to mark a significant advance in the politicisation of the republican movement, disavowing violence, particularly "punishment" beatings, and acknowledging that decommissioning is an essential requirement for peace.
President Clinton last night urged the Northern Ireland parties to move quickly to implement the Belfast Agreement in full following Senator George Mitchell's interim report.
In a statement issued in Ankara, Turkey, where he is on an official visit, Mr Clinton said he was "heartened" by the report of Mr Mitchell. While the precise contents of today's UUP and Sinn Fein statements were being kept under wraps, informed sources indicated they would be significant. The IRA statement will be minimal in content but is expected to indicate support for the Adams-McGuinness strategy.
It is believed to include an announcement that an IRA interlocutor is being appointed to act as go-between with Gen de Chastelain's decommissioning body. Speculation concerning this person's identity was rife and the IRA may decide to keep this confidential.
The Sinn Fein statement will seek to draw a line under the violence of the past three decades but the IRA text will not, contrary to some reports, declare an end to the "war". The improved relationship and understanding of each other's positions are likely to be reflected in both texts, which were characterised last night as "conciliatory".
Dissidents in both republican and unionist ranks are likely to be highly critical of the approach taken by their party leaderships.
The UUP text was described as a "holding" statement, although it was expected to welcome the new climate between the parties and note Sinn Fein's diligence in the talks.
The position of the UUP deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, continues to be seen as crucial to Mr Trimble's efforts to persuade his party to support the deal agreed in the Mitchell Review. While Mr Taylor has been maintaining a hardline position against the deal in its present form, hopes were being held out that he could yet be persuaded to change his mind.