IRA statement is sign of hope.
From IRISH NEWS March 9th, 2001
AS the talks at Hillsborough Castle continued last night, most outside attention
focused on the IRA statement which was unexpectedly issued shortly before
the proceedings began. It was the timing rather than the content of the
statement which attracted most discussion, and raised at least some hopes
that progress might become possible. The IRA's decision to resume contact
with General John de Chastelain's decommissioning commission was plainly
the minimum step required in the circumstances. General de Castlelain's
role remains a central part of the Good Friday agreement, and it was little
short of disastrous for the IRA to suspend its links with him just over
a year ago. It is essential that the process, now that it is to be resumed,
amounts to much more than an exchange of telephone calls. General de Chastelain
must be given the opportunity to enter into detailed negotiations with republicans
leading to a specific outcome. Establishing a firm timetable for further
visits to IRA arms dumps by the international inspectors also needs to be
given a high priority. The general is scheduled to conclude his deliberations
within a matter of months, and far too many delays have already hampered
his work. However, the fact that an IRA statement should materialise a matter
of hours before the launch of a crucial set of meetings was intriguing.
Reports from Dublin in recent weeks have suggested an increasing degree
of frustration at government level over inflexibility on the republican
side. The onus has to be on the IRA to demonstrate that it really is prepared
to put its weapons permanently and verifiably beyond use. If that happens,
a wide range of other developments can swiftly fall into place. |
