Mo Mowlam: increased confidence that republicans want peace

Mowlam Presses for Early Weapons Handover

The demand was made by the Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam, in her first meeting with the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, since the IRA renewed its ceasefire.

Dr Mowlam said after the meeting at Stormont in Belfast that she hoped circumstances would enable further meetings to take place. In a brief statement, she said a wide range of issues had been discussed.

"I confirmed that the Government remained committed to the joint paper on decommissioning and urged Sinn Fein to work to achieve the earliest possible decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons," she said.

How the meeting went: Mo Mowlam and Gerry Adams give their impressions

Gerry Adams: "It's the beginning of an engagement"

Government policy is that there should be 'parallel decommissioning' - going on as negotiations continue. Discussion on the issue has held up the start of substantive talks for most of the past year.

Gerry Adams said his delegation was satisfied that they had put across their views and had listened and been listened to.

"It is up to all of us to advance on the shared responsibility of bringing about a peace settlement," he said.

He made it clear he was looking for a united Ireland, leaving the Government in no uncertainty about the difficulties of trying to find a political settlement.

"We want an Ireland free and independent," he told Ulster Secretary Mo Mowlam across the talks table in Castle Buildings, Stormont.

"Sinn Fein enters negotiations as an Irish republican party seeking to promote the broad nationalist objective of an end to British rule in Ireland," insisted Mr Adams. "Partition is wrong. It is a failure of the past which must be put right."

He urged the British Government to play a constructive role in "persuading" unionists to reach a democratic agreement on Irish reunification. But at the same time he said unionists had nothing to fear.

Further meetings between the two sides are expected, but no dates have been announced.

Recent Developments:

July 29: Britain and Irish Republic to consult Ulster Parties
July 25: Ahern meets Sinn Fein
July 22: Paisley says talks "Dead in the Water"
July 21: Trimble acknowledges "Possibilities for Progress"
July 19: IRA Announces New Ceasefire
July 16: Unionist Walk-Out Over Decommissioning
July 12: Ulster marches pass off peacefully
July 9: PM "Determined to Solve Northern Ireland's Troubles"
July 7: Leaked Document Proves Government Never Considered Banning Drumcree March
July 6: Violence across Northern Ireland in the wake of Drumcree March