Arms inspectors resign from their posts

Two independent inspectors who were appointed to examine IRA arms dumps have left their posts following news of the first steps taken by the IRA to decommission their weapons.

Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari and South African ANC secretary General Cyril Ramaphosa both stepped down on Wednesday October 24 because they felt their jobs had been fulfilled with the news early this week of IRA decommissioning.

On Tuesday October 23 a groundbreaking statement by the IRA declaring the initiation of decommissioning was followed by a statement from the Independent Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) which said: “We have now witnessed an event – which we regard as significant- in which the IRA has put a quantity of arms completely beyond use.”

The two men said: “In the light of this event and the renewed engagement between the IRA and the Independent Commission on Decommissioning, we are now pleased to announce that our task as arms inspectors has ended.”

They added: “We have advised the British and the Irish governments and other parties accordingly and informed them that we will be available in the future to assist in the peace process if needed.”

Reacting to the statement, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said: “People in Ireland and people of goodwill internationally who support the peace process appreciate the role and contribution made by Cyril Ramaphosa and Martti Ahtisaari. They have played a valuable and important role, I thank them for that and wish both men well in the future.”

Both men, who were appointed in May 2000, had acted as independent arms inspectors before the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning became fully engaged with the IRA. Having inspected IRA arms dumps three times during their appointment in Northern Ireland, their role was to mainly inject confidence and trust in IRA intentions. (AMcE)