Speaking after meeting with the Prime Minister this afternoon, Seamus Close, Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party, said, “The Prime Minister’s visit to Northern Ireland today is a clear demonstration of the government’s determination to move this process forward in a structured and constructive way.

“We stressed the importance of such determination for the vast majority of the citizens of Northern Ireland, who don’t have a particular axe to grind, but who want to see a fair settlement, a settlement that will improve their lives, and the lives of their children.

“We pointed out to the Prime Minister that success in this process is the greatest confidence-building measure available to all of us.”

Note to editors: The Alliance delegation meeting the Prime Minister consisted of Seamus Close (Deputy Leader), Sean Neeson (Chief Whip), Eileen Bell (Party Chair), Steve McBride (Justice and Legal Affairs Spokesperson).

Alliance Party Justice Spokesman, Steve McBride, had called for paramilitary groups to meet directly with the Independent Commission on Decommissioning.

Speaking after a meeting with the Indepenednt Commission at Castle Buildings, Stormont, Cllr McBride said:

“Decommissioning is an imporatant issue. We have to set in motion a process which will make sure that the guns really are silenced forever and which can build confidence in the good faith of those currently holding illegal arms.

“The political parties cannot solve this problem. Those organisations that have weapons have to become directly involved. They – the paramilitary groups – need to be speaking directly to the Commission at the earliest opportunity so that a realistic beginning can be made to a process which is inevitably going to be long and difficult but which must be brought to a successful conclusion.

“The direct engagement of those groups with the Commission will be an important test of their commitment to the process.”

Alliance Leader, Lord Alderdice, speaking this morning before going into a meeting with the new International Arms Decommissioning Body, has criticised the Sinn Fein stance on the Talks.

Lord Alderdice said:

“It is clear that the Sinn Fein leadership does not yet realise the kind of democratic process which they have joined. This process is not about smashing the Union, any more than it is about smashing Sinn Fein, and those politicians who talk all the time about smashing things are only displaying their own destructive credentials. These talks are about building a new future, a new stable, peaceful, democratic future, and the only things which will be smashed are the weapons of mass destruction which have claimed so many lives. It is to constructively negotiate that end that we are meeting this morning with the International Decommissioning Body.”

Seamus Close, deputy leader of the Alliance Party has slammed Ian Paisley for his comments that he would bring down the talks process.

“Dr Paisley should get real and stop his bluster. Years ago this gentleman told us all he would smash Sinn Fein, destroy the Anglo-Irish agreement etc. Now he claims he is going to destroy the present talks process. I have no doubt that he’ll be as successful with the latter as he was with the former.

“Does Dr Paisley not have one constructive thought in his head? Is it all destructive and negative?”

Seamus Close, Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party has welcomed the Unionist decision to re-enter Castle Buildings.

“The arrival of the Ulster Unionist Party at Castle Buildings is an encouraging step which demonstrates progress. This opens the real possibility of us all getting down to substantive talks which is the desire of the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland.”

Alliance Party Chief Whip, Alderman Sean Neeson, has condemned today’s bomb attack at Markethill as a blatant attempt by terrorists to destroy the talks on Northern Ireland’s future at Castle Buildings.

Ald Neeson says, “This outrageous attack should strengthen the resolve of Talks participants to move the process forward, and in particular I would urge the Ulster Unionist Party to stop the play acting and participate seriously in the talks at Castle Buildings.”

Seamus Close, deputy leader of the Alliance Party has refuted the Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam’s comments that all parties were largely satisfied with responses to questions put to Sinn Fein last night.

“While the Secretary of State, and the Irish Foreign Minister, Mr Ray Burke may claim to be satisfied with Sinn Fein’s responses to questions posed at the plenary session of talks last night, I as Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party would like to make it clear beyond any doubt that neither I nor my party are satisfied with Sinn Fein’s replies on the issue.

“Gerry Adams studiously avoided answering any questions which we repeatedly posed and dodged and weaved like an accomplished ballerina

“For the Secretary of State to allege that his responses were ‘full and comprehensive’ displays a flawed understanding of the meaning of those words and an interpretation with which I would not agree.”