This is the draft summary record of an opening plenary session on Monday 16 December 1996 at 12.08. Alliance, the UUP and the SDLP reported back to plenary on their trilateral discussions. They had made progress but areas of disagreement remained. These were summarised in a paper submitted by the SDLP on 11 December 1996. The British Government proposed an adjournment to enable further discussions, which the Irish Government was in favour of. The DUP and the UKUP were unhappy with being sidelined and with items on the agenda potentially being skipped. The UKUP threatened to walk out. The SDLP and Alliance regretted the weekend press leaks. The UUP and the UKUP argued over the correct interpretation of comments allegedly made by the UUP to the press. The SDLP regarded the bilateral and trilateral discussions as confidential. The UKUP and the SDLP disagreed over whether the entry of Sinn Féin was the question at hand. The Chairman agreed to meet with all participants and asked that parties be kept appraised of bilateral progress.
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