HISTORY was made today as Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble came face-to-face for the first time at the multi-party talks in Belfast.
It is, of course, true that the tone set was more one of confrontation as the first item on Mr Trimble's agenda was to get Sinn Fein thrown out of the talks.
This, however, may have been a show to satisfy hard-line loyalists.
For the real - and encouraging - reason for the Ulster Unionists' presence was that, as they have found from their own consultations, the vast majority of the people they represent want the talks to take place and progress.
It is a pity that other bigots like Dr Ian Paisley have ignored that mandate and have stayed away.
But at least, with today's departure, dialogue - however, bitter it may be at the outset - is taking place in place of the deadly alternative of terror that has got Ulster nowhere at all.
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