He arrived with his new “quality time” strategy. First, he temporarily moved the talks from the familiar, media-hounded surroundings in Belfast to Winfield House, the vast and lavish London residence of U.S. Ambassador Phil Lader. There, over meals, cocktails and informal get-togethers, Mitchell sought to bring the men closer together. By wining and dining them, several sources close to the peace process told NEWSWEEK, Mitchell has succeeded in polishing the personal dynamics of key negotiators like Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
When Mitchell, Trimble and Adams sat down for dinner together two weeks ago, after the talks moved back to Belfast, it was seen as a quasi-historic occasion. And at the weekend there was increased hope for a breakthrough. Reported a source last week, “It sounds as if things have loosened up. "
