(11 Mar 1999) English/Nat
British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday held talks with members of Northern Ireland's Ulster Unionist Party, renewing hopes that a solution can be found to the decommissioning stumbling block.
Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam joined them in talks at Number Downing Street.
Her deputy Paul Murphy, meanwhile, held all party round-table talks in the Province.
As he left Downing street after the hour-long meeting British Prime Minister Tony Blair looked relaxed and confident.
He refused to talk to journalists, instead speeding away in a ministerial car.
But Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble told the waiting media that he was confident a solution could be found to the critical issue of decommissioning.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well I am quite sure it can be resolved, and I am quite sure it is with in the capabilities of the Paramilitaries, all of the paramilitary groups concerned, I'm quite sure it's within their capability to do it. It's not a matter that they can't do, it's a matter that so far they won't do, and I don't think that society can tolerate that 'won't', and I think it's very encouraging to see the quality of support there is for this to happen."
SUPER CAPTION: David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
Next week many of the leading figures in Northern Ireland will fly to Washington for St Patrick's Day celebrations.
There it is thought that President Clinton may intervene to try and give the stalled talks a much needed boost.
Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam said she hoped that the change of scene would give the give the leaders a new impetus to drive the peace process forward.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I am sure as President Clinton has made clear he will do everything he can to help but I think it's important for us to find out from the parties aswell what he can do from their perspective because it's them he will be wanting to help, but I am sure by just providing an environment for people to meet and talk in a relaxed fashion will help to build some of the confidence that we need to move forward in the weeks ahead."
SUPER CAPTION: Mo Mowlam, Northern Ireland Secretary
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's Development Minister, Paul Murphy, was continuing to hold round-table talks in Belfast in the hope of finding a solution to what has become the thorn in the side of the Good Friday agreement.
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