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06/08/2001
Decommissioning report hailed as breakthrough
A short statement issued on Monday by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has given some hope of a movement towards disarmament by the IRA.
The terse statement from the Commission headed by General John de Chastelain outlined three main points arising from a recent meeting with an IRA representative who had said the statement “proposed a method for putting IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use”.
Furthermore the report indicated that the Commission were “satisfied that this proposal meets the Commission's remit in accordance with the Governments' scheme and regulations”.
The third point concluded: “Based on our discussions with the IRA representative, we believe that this proposal initiates a process that will put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use.”
Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he hoped that the Ulster Unionists would see the “enormous significance” of the development that he described as "an historic breakthrough".
Secretary of State Dr John Reid said that the report represented “a highly important and significant step forward,” adding that he thought “we should not underestimate the importance of the statement”.
However, Jeffery Donaldson, careful not to play down the statement, said that what was needed was the “actual decommissioning of arms without delay.”
The report from the arms decommissioning body comes at a pivotal time for the Governments’ peace package. First Minister David Trimble resigned on July 31 because the IRA had failed to enact decommissioning.
Unionists see this as a core promise made by Republicans which underpins the Good Friday Agreement and had allowed Sinn Féin to wield political power.
While the political parties have until Monday 6 August to make their comments on the peace blueprint, the statement from General John de Chastelain’s Commission will now have to be carefully considered to evaluate this eleventh hour gesture by the IRA.
By 12 August the government must decide whether to call re-elections for the positions of First and Deputy First Minister or suspend the Assembly..
(SP)
The terse statement from the Commission headed by General John de Chastelain outlined three main points arising from a recent meeting with an IRA representative who had said the statement “proposed a method for putting IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use”.
Furthermore the report indicated that the Commission were “satisfied that this proposal meets the Commission's remit in accordance with the Governments' scheme and regulations”.
The third point concluded: “Based on our discussions with the IRA representative, we believe that this proposal initiates a process that will put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use.”
Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he hoped that the Ulster Unionists would see the “enormous significance” of the development that he described as "an historic breakthrough".
Secretary of State Dr John Reid said that the report represented “a highly important and significant step forward,” adding that he thought “we should not underestimate the importance of the statement”.
However, Jeffery Donaldson, careful not to play down the statement, said that what was needed was the “actual decommissioning of arms without delay.”
The report from the arms decommissioning body comes at a pivotal time for the Governments’ peace package. First Minister David Trimble resigned on July 31 because the IRA had failed to enact decommissioning.
Unionists see this as a core promise made by Republicans which underpins the Good Friday Agreement and had allowed Sinn Féin to wield political power.
While the political parties have until Monday 6 August to make their comments on the peace blueprint, the statement from General John de Chastelain’s Commission will now have to be carefully considered to evaluate this eleventh hour gesture by the IRA.
By 12 August the government must decide whether to call re-elections for the positions of First and Deputy First Minister or suspend the Assembly..
(SP)
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