Unionists Hang Tough in Irish Talks

STORMONT, Northern Ireland: Brinkmanship is the name of the game for the pro-British Ulster Unionists as the clock counts down to a deadline for all-party agreement on Northern Ireland, says TIME London bureau chief Barry Hillenbrand. Unionist leader David Trimble today dismissed as unacceptable compromise proposals by U.S. mediator Senator George Mitchell. The Unionists are hanging tough to try and secure more concessions, says Hillenbrand. They prefer the status quo in Northern Ireland and want to minimize the changes that result from the peace process.

Trimble, who warned that future participation by Unionists in the talks depended on the British and Irish governments' adopting "radically different measures," managed to drag Tony Blair up to Belfast for emergency consultations with the Unionists. Despite the rhetoric, however, Hillenbrand says the Unionists are not seriously threatening to quit the talks. Even then, the pursuit of happiness in Northern Ireland is on the back burner; the best Blair and Mitchell can hope for is to minimize unhappiness -- and keep the peace.