Decommissioning vital, says Ahern

THE decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons must be carried out on a convincing basis, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said last night.

As Foreign Minister Brian Cowen and Northern Secretary Paul Murphy prepare for a new round of talks in Belfast, Mr Ahern said there was also a need for the republican movement to back the new policing arrangements. British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Ahern will be heavily involved in crucial talks at Leeds Castle in Maidstone in a bid to restore the power-sharing Executive at Stormont.

These talks are due to begin on September 16 and last for three days.

The Taoiseach, commenting on the 10th anniversary of the IRA ceasefire, said the choices and responsibilities will be clear to all those attending the talks.

He identified them as: “The need to end all forms of paramilitary activity and to see the decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons to an early timetable and on a convincing basis.

“A commitment to stable and durable partnership government in Northern Ireland and to any changes to the operation of the institutions agreed within the Review of the Good Friday Agreement.

“And the need for the republican movement to accept and support policing and to set the context for devolving policing and justice.”

The negotiations are the latest attempt by the British and Irish governments to restore power-sharing.

But with the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin emerging as the two largest parties after last November’s Assembly elections there is little optimism that a breakthrough can be achieved later this month.

Both Dublin and London will be hoping for a resolution, fearing that the process could be put on hold until after the next British general election as the DUP and Sinn Féin seek to consolidate their positions.

Mr Blair’s spokesman said the prime minister believed there was a shared agenda between the parties which could lead to a deal.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said there was a heavy onus on both the DUP and his party to agree measures within the terms of the agreement that could bring all outstanding issues to a definitive and conclusive closure.

Meantime, Belfast was hit yesterday by a wave of hoax bomb alerts.