During a bilateral meeting on 19 November 1996, attended by Reg Empey, Peter Weir, Peter King, David Kerr, Michael Ancram, Quentin Thomas, and David Hill, the discussion focused on the challenges of including Sinn Féin in the peace process. Michael Ancram inquired about the Ulster Unionist Party's (UUP) interactions with the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and the potential for moving forward despite disagreements. Reg Empey expressed the UUP's reluctance to engage with Sinn Féin due to ongoing activities and the credibility gap regarding ceasefires. Ancram emphasized the need for a firm and reasonable approach, outlining three key elements required from Sinn Féin: an unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire, consistent actions, and sufficient time for assessment. Empey highlighted the difficulties of negotiating with Sinn Féin without prior decommissioning and the implications for the UUP. Peter Weir stressed the importance of mechanisms for decommissioning and entry requirements for Sinn Féin. The discussion also touched on the potential for agreement on technical roles for the Commission and the Committee, but Empey remained skeptical about negotiating directly with Sinn Féin. The meeting concluded with a proposal for further discussions to find bridgeable gaps and potential agreements.
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