IRA decommissioning report to be issued tomorrow
A report on IRA decommissioning will be presented to the British and Irish Governments tomorrow, it emerged tonight.
General John De Chastelain, head of the International Commission on Decommissioning will make his findings public hours later and reveal whether the Provisionals’ historic pledge to end its armed struggle is being transformed into reality.
Separate statements are expected from the two independent church witnesses, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and the IRA.
It is understood the retired Canadian General and his two fellow commissioners will give a press conference at a hotel near Holywood, Co Down tomorrow afternoon.
The two independent church witnesses are believed to be Father Alex Reid and former Methodist president Harold Good.
The latest development in the peace process follows the IRA’s groundbreaking statement on July 28.
Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness claimed the breakthrough could be more significant than the Provisionals’ 1994 ceasefire.
Mr McGuinness will travel to Washington on Tuesday where he is expected to brief Irish Americans on the developments.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern today said he was confident the Provisionals would carry out a full and complete decommissioning of its arsenal.
UK Secretary of State Peter Hain last week said he had received intelligence which suggested progress had been made since the IRA statement.
Mr Hain has urged the IRA to make the process as credible as possible in a bid to convince the unionist community that its rhetoric is being transformed into reality.
But DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley has accused the Provisionals of calling the shots on the decommissioning process by refusing to allow photographic evidence and requesting approval of any unionist observers.
In Dublin yesterday Gerry Adams said it was time for republicans and unionists to work together to overcome their differences.
Looking ahead to the anticipated statement on decommissioning the West Belfast MP said: An announcement will have a huge impact on the political process. I know it will be difficult for many republicans. There will be some who are concerned about the future.
“But I believe that we need to face up to this opportunity in a positive mood.”
Mr Adams told the rally the move would be a huge sea change not just for republicans but for the entire island of Ireland.
“I don’t think republicans have absorbed what it is about. I don’t think the media have absorbed what it is about. I don’t think our opponents have absorbed what it is about,” he said.
“But when the IRA delivers, when our opponents and our enemies no longer have the IRA to use as an excuse, what are they going to do?
“Harking back to the old days is clearly not an option and I suspect that in their heart of hearts they know that.”
Mr Hain said the significance of decommissioning had to be apparent to everyone in the province.
“People have got to see that there is the biggest dumping of arms and getting rid of the IRA’s arsenal than ever before,” he told the BBC.
“It has got to be part of a process where the IRA, as they promised in their historic statement at the end of July, deliver action on the ground to close down paramilitary activity and criminal violence.”
He said decommissioning could lead to the resumption of self-government.
“When that is clear then I think we should get all the parties round to start discussing the resumption of self-government.”
Dermot Ahern, who met Sinn Féin at Government Buildings last week, said he was confident the IRA would abandon its arsenal.
He said: “From everything that I’ve heard and from everything I’ve understood from our own security services, the answer to that question is yes.”
