"The Ulster Unionist Party has paid a heavy price to progress the peace and political processes in Northern Ireland. The human cost has seen the terrorist murders of Senators of the old Stormont Parliament, Members of Parliament at Westminster, elected representatives of the newer Stormont regimes, and local councillors. Indeed, some of our current representatives live under threat. We have also lost our Glengall Street Party Headquarters to bomb attack. In short, this Party has lost too much to condone, or in any way incite violence.'

"The political process we led to secure the 1998 Agreement had the primary objective of offering an inclusive political process for all, making democracy the only means for promoting political objectives.'

"We deplore and condemn without reservation the recent violence, threats and intimidation against elected representatives, and attacks against the police. We call for an immediate end to such shameful illegality, and for all to behave in a manner that demonstrates the values that are encapsulated in the Union flag.'

"The Ulster Unionist Party Executive regrets that such an obviously divisive issue as the flying of flags was considered a priority by the parties that requested the Equality Impact Assessment given the economic and social priorities that Belfast’s citizens and businesses face. For the debate at Belfast City Council to be subsequently scheduled in the run up to Christmas, when the remaining traders need to maximise the opportunity the festive season presents, showed a further disregard for the City`s hard pressed business community given the obvious community sensitivities around such issues.'

"Belfast City Hall is the premier municipal building of Northern Ireland, and the Ulster Unionist Party affirms its support for our Belfast City Councillors in seeking to maintain the status quo regarding the Council’s policy on flying the Union flag.'

"The broader issue of flags will need to be resolved within the context of an agreement on a shared future, and a commitment to tackle sectarianism, the toxic legacy of our troubled past.'

"To that end, we call on Sinn Fein and the SDLP to immediately state their intention to reverse the decision by Newry and Mourne Council to continue naming a playpark in Newry after Raymond McCreesh, and acknowledge the damage to community relations, given Raymond McCreesh was caught in possession of a weapon that was connected to the Kingsmills massacre, and the further damage to good relations caused by the recent republican vandalism to the new Kingsmills memorial."