Empey-led UUP team meets Blair
Monday, 25 July 2005 16:55A delegation from the Ulster Unionist Party met the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in London today amid mounting speculation that a groundbreaking IRA statement is imminent.
The talks in Downing Street were Sir Reg Empey's first with Mr Blair as leader of the Ulster Unionists.
On the possibility of a move by the IRA, Mr Empey said: 'We will be looking, over the next period of time, to see what they actually do. I suspect people will not be convinced by anything they might say but it will be by their actions.'
Mr Empey succeeded David Trimble as UUP leader last month.
Over the weekend, a leading member of the UUP, Alan McFarland, said that he believed a development on the future of the IRA was 'very close'.
It is thought that meetings between the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, will intensify over the coming week.
In April, Mr Adams said the IRA should pursue its goals through peaceful and democratic means.
