Northern Ireland has no future outside the Belfast Agreement the Northern Secretary Dr John Reid told the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen TD at a meeting in Dublin.
Describing today's talks as `very useful', Dr Reid said it was vital to proceed with all aspects of the agreement.
Agreeing with Minister Cowan's assertion that the Irish Government was determined to get through current difficulties, Secretary Reid said this was the fourth serious difficulty the Agreement had faced since he became Secretary of State. And while it would be difficult, he said, "we should be able to get through this."
Calling on all parties to acknowledge the benefits the Agreement had brought, he said that despite obstacles and mistrust they "must never forget what a loss it [The Belfast Agreement] would be."
He recognised that both nationalists and unionists required reassurances but stressed negotiations required more than the participation of a single party. He said nationalists must be assured that unionists would share power with them and unionists had to be assured that the Mitchell Principles on non-violence would be observed.
When asked of the possibility of elections following the UUP's threat to withdraw from the executive, Secretary Reid said he was "a long way from making a decision on these matters and that this particular deadline is some months away."
Secretary Reid promised to proceed on the policing issue by implementing the legislative changes agreed under the Agreement. He also condemned attacks by what he called `so-called republicans' on Catholic recruits to the newly instituted Police Service of Northern Ireland.
While stating he wanted to see all aspects of the Agreement working, he said it was not within his power to force anyone to attend anymore than it was in his power to make the IRA disband.
Both parties recognised the need for further talks and meetings with concerned parties and between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair are planned.
