New peace process talks this week
Round-table talks to stabilise the Northern Ireland peace process are likely to take place later this week, Stormont sources indicated today.
The Irish and British governments and pro-Good Friday Agreement parties are expected to hold a round-table meeting on Thursday in a bid to break the deadlock over policing, IRA decommissioning, demilitarisation and Unionist sanctions against Sinn Fein.
It had been believed that the talks would take place tomorrow but Stormont sources were insisting that they expected the discussions to take place later on in the week.
"Behind-the-scenes talks have been continuing involving the two governments and the parties," a source said.
"Those will continue. As for the round table, I don’t think anybody is expecting a major breakthrough.
"We expect people to discuss the problems we face and possible ways forward. But it will still essentially be an exploratory meeting."
The round-table discussion will take place against the background of mounting concern about the actions of dissident republican paramilitary’s in the wake of the car bomb attack at BBC Television Centre in London.
Hard-line Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson said the attack, which is being blamed on the Real IRA, illustrated why the British Government should ignore Sinn Fein’s demands for the scaling down of Army bases and military operations in republican areas.
Mr Donaldson said: "I hope the Prime Minister realises it is absolutely essential, not just for the people of Northern Ireland but people throughout the United Kingdom, that adequate security measures remain in place.
"The only way to deal with the Real IRA and dissident groups is through adequate security and surveillance."
