The new Northern Secretary Peter Mandelson paid a 20 minute courtesy call on the Taoiseach at government buildings this morning. Later he went to Iveagh House to meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews and the Junior Minister Liz O'Donnell. On his way into the meeting, Mr Mandelson told reporters there is no "Plan B" for the northern peace process. He said "the only show in town is the good Friday Agreement." He added that the two governments are at one in making sure that it is implemented. The Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews said that they still believed that the Mitchell talks could break the impasse.
Talks between the Ulster Unionists and Sinn Féin continued at the US Ambassador's residence in London today. The Sinn Féin Chairman, Mitchel McLaughlin, said that it is possible the differences between his party and the UUP may not be resolved this week. However, Mr McLaughlin said that other elements of the Good Friday Agreement should go ahead if a deal is not reached. His comments echoed those of Unionist leader David Trimble, who told a tourism seminar in Glasgow yesterday that he hoped the Mitchell review would be successful, but if more time was needed, people should be patient.
Mr Trimble is facing mounting pressure from within his own party. He has been served a warning by six of his MPs, including Jeffrey Donaldson, and a former party leader. The seven Unionists re-iterated the ‘no guns no government’ policy of the party and stressed that any attempt to fudge the issue or force the UUP to ditch their policy would be resisted in the strongest possible terms. David Trimble will take a break from the Northern talks tomorrow to attend Peter Mandelson's first Northern Ireland Questions in the House of Commons. Some sources are suggesting the talks may adjourn tomorrow to allow the parties return to the North for consultations with a view to resuming on Friday.
