Report of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), 22 March 2001

1. Since our 22 December 2000 report to the Governments there has been no actual decommissioning, but events of the past few weeks lead us to believe that progress on it can be made. This report will comment on those events.

2. Meetings in recent weeks with representatives of the UVF and the UFF confirmed their willingness to consider decommissioning their arms, and their general agreement on methods and related supporting issues. Both groups continue to affirm that they will not move on decommissioning before the IRA does so.

3. On 8 March the IRA published a statement in which they stated in part: "...the IRA leadership has decided to enter into further discussions with the IICD. This will be on the basis of the IRA leadership's commitment to resolving the issues contained in our statement of May 6th 2000, and on no other basis." In a telephone call later the same day, the IRA renewed contact with the Commission.

4. Subsequently a meeting was held between the Commission and the IRA representative. At that meeting we reviewed developments since our last meeting and established a basis for further discussions. We welcomed the re-engagement with the IRA representative and consider it to be in good faith. We will build on it at future such meetings which we expect will occur soon.

5. We will keep the Governments advised of progress as it occurs.

Belfast, 22 March 2001

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