McGuinness criticises Governments over decommissioning
Martin McGuinness, emerging from more than an hour-and-a-half of talks, said he had taken the two Governments to task over their attempts to place the entire burden of decommissioning on his party.
‘‘We are under no circumstances going to accept that this responsibility was ours alone. The two Governments and other parties have a responsibility to work collectively in order to achieve this.
‘‘It won’t be achieved by threats, ultimatums or deadlines from David Trimble,’’ he said.
Describing the meeting as frank and forthright Mr McGuinness accused the British Government of failing to honestly implement the Good Friday Agreement by reneging on its responsibilities over decommissioning and demilitarisation.
However, David Trimble emerged from the talks to give a gloomy assessment of the prospects for IRA decommissioning.
He said: ‘‘Unfortunately there is no sign of progress and in our own estimate it will be some time yet until we see republicans beginning to respond to the very clear pressure they are under.’’
He expressed concern about the continuing violence in north Belfast, adding that it was clear it was being orchestrated by paramilitaries.
The First Minister called on loyalist paramilitaries to make a public commitment to keep their promises to match any movement by republicans on disarmament.
