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09/02/2010
Decommissioning 'Completed'
There has been a welcome for the confirmation by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) that the INLA, the Official IRA and the South East Antrim UDA have decommissioned their weapons.
Both the NIO Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward and the PM, Gordon Brown have praised the work of the decommissioning body.
Two republican groups - the Irish National Liberation Army and the Official IRA disposed of their arms.
Mr Brown told the House of Commons the loyalist South East Antrim Ulster Defence Association had also done so.
He also welcomed the commitment that this shows to achieving political ends peacefully and not through violence and said that dissident republicans need to get that message.
The Prime Minister said decommissioning was "a central part of the process of moving NI from violence to peace".
"I think the house would want to record our thanks to the international commission which has now overseen decommissioning by the UDA, UVF, PIRA and now INLA and the Official IRA."
Last night, the Secretary of State also said: "This is another hugely significant day in the history of Northern Ireland.
"On the eve of the end of the decommissioning legislation, these acts of decommissioning and those that have gone before are recognition that the future of Northern Ireland must be a peaceful one, free from violence and the fear of violence.
"The message it sends to those who still think that they can threaten, maim and murder when the voices of people around the world are raised against them could not be clearer.
"They delude themselves, and those they try to recruit, if they do not recognise that change that is to mean anything can only come about through argument, persuasion and dialogue not coercion," he said, reiterating that the decommissioning deadline was today and that the legislation will not be renewed.
"There were those who argued against the renewal of the decommission legislation for one final year when I proposed it last year.
"I understood their position but judged that if there was a chance to take more guns and bombs out of circulation through this mechanism then it should be taken.
"The fact that we have seen major acts of decommission during the year vindicates that decision," he concluded.
(BMcC/GK)
Both the NIO Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward and the PM, Gordon Brown have praised the work of the decommissioning body.
Two republican groups - the Irish National Liberation Army and the Official IRA disposed of their arms.
Mr Brown told the House of Commons the loyalist South East Antrim Ulster Defence Association had also done so.
He also welcomed the commitment that this shows to achieving political ends peacefully and not through violence and said that dissident republicans need to get that message.
The Prime Minister said decommissioning was "a central part of the process of moving NI from violence to peace".
"I think the house would want to record our thanks to the international commission which has now overseen decommissioning by the UDA, UVF, PIRA and now INLA and the Official IRA."
Last night, the Secretary of State also said: "This is another hugely significant day in the history of Northern Ireland.
"On the eve of the end of the decommissioning legislation, these acts of decommissioning and those that have gone before are recognition that the future of Northern Ireland must be a peaceful one, free from violence and the fear of violence.
"The message it sends to those who still think that they can threaten, maim and murder when the voices of people around the world are raised against them could not be clearer.
"They delude themselves, and those they try to recruit, if they do not recognise that change that is to mean anything can only come about through argument, persuasion and dialogue not coercion," he said, reiterating that the decommissioning deadline was today and that the legislation will not be renewed.
"There were those who argued against the renewal of the decommission legislation for one final year when I proposed it last year.
"I understood their position but judged that if there was a chance to take more guns and bombs out of circulation through this mechanism then it should be taken.
"The fact that we have seen major acts of decommission during the year vindicates that decision," he concluded.
(BMcC/GK)
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