British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern engaged in many hours of negotiations with the UUP, SDLP and Sinn Fein. The parties and the two governments are anxious at this stage not to unduly raise expectations of a breakthrough but clearly there was a certain degree of increased optimism. The atmosphere amongst the parties is believed to have considerably improved after the recriminations which have clouded political process since the suspension of the institutions at the beginning of this year. Our position remains as it has been consistently. We want to see the full implementation of all aspects of the Good Friday agreement and the immediate restoration of the democratic institutions.
Serious dialogue is underway.
And I detect a very serious commitment by the two prime ministers and the three parties. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, before going into the discussions, again called on Mr Blair to make it clear that he would restore the political institutions and go ahead with the forward implementation of the agreement. In a BBC Radio Ulster interview, the SDLP's Sean Farren said that there were intensive discussions taking place. There is a quiet sense of anticipation that we may achieve a breakthrough. But it is still at the level of may, rather than at the level of will.