New IMC Report Shows Loyalist Decommissioning

The Report indicates that substantial quantities of firearms, ammunition and explosives belonging to the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando have been decommissioned. The Commission believes that it has completed the decommissioning of arms belonging to these groups.

The Report also confirms that the Ulster Defence Association has recently decommissioned a quantity of weapons. Significantly, the Report states that the Commission has been given a commitment that that decommissioning of the remainder of their arms will be completed by the expiration of the Commission's mandate in February 2010.

Commenting on the Report the Minister said: "This clearly confirms that significant progress has been made in taking paramilitary weapons out of use. The emphasis must now be on resolving differences through political means. I believe it vindicates the view of the two Governments that the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning should be allowed to complete its task."

The Minister also paid tribute to the work of the Commission: "I would like also to pay a generous tribute to the members of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, General John de Chastelain, Brigadier Tauno Nieminem and Mr. Andy Sens, for their patience, skill and determination in this difficult task. We owe then a tremendous debt."