Decommissioning Body says deadlines are not a good idea

The International Decommissioning Body has published its latest report on the decommissioning process in the North.

The Body, which is chaired by General John De Chastelain, says that it has not got a commitment from the IRA as to how to put their arms supplies out of use but it has also stressed that imposing deadlines will not be of any use.

The group says that it has met representatives from the IRA, the UDA and the UVF over the past week and intends to continue meetings despite two decommissioning deadlines having been breached.

The report states that it believes that the IRA’s undertaking to decommission has been made in good faith.

The UVF say it will only decommission until after it hears the IRA say the war is over, while the UDA say that they cannot discuss decommissioning while two of their key members, including Johnny Adair, are in prison.

The commission has announced its intention to continue discussions with the groups despite their failure to meet the deadlines that have been imposed by political parties.