Alliance: Action needed soon
Alliance Party leader David Ford welcomed Mr Adams’ statement as an apparent indication of willingness on the part of republicans to move on decommissioning.
Mr Ford said: ‘‘Real action is now needed within a short time. The hope engendered by this statement will be useless unless it is followed by IRA action to remove weapons from use to the satisfaction of the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning).’’
He said it was also up to Unionists to show their good faith and provide the key to progress - a commitment to the future stability of the political institutions.
Mr Ford said it was now incumbent on loyalist paramilitaries to decommission. ‘‘Only then can we all feel free from the threat of terrorist violence once and for all.’’
David Trimble’s Ulster Unionist Party made no immediate comment about Mr Adams’ announcement.
A spokesman said they were studying the script before responding.
David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force called on the IRA to now state that its war is over.
‘‘Everything the IRA has done up to now has been begrudging so let’s see what the style and nature of this (decommissioning) is,’’ he said.
Mr Ervine said he had no evidence to suggest that loyalists would make a reciprocal gesture on disarmament.
‘‘If there are positive moves by republicans to save the process then maybe people can think about what they can do to assist the process,’’ he added.
