THE contentious issue of decommissioning weapons is addressed in the two governments' paper outlining the "scenario for the opening plenary session" of the substantive all talks.

The opening plenary session will, address the Mitchell led international body's proposals on decommissioning, with both governments confirming their commitment to all aspects of the report. This pledge includes Dublin and London support "for the compromise approach to decommissioning" as sketched in the Mitchell document.

The governments' proposals ford the opening session as published yesterday confirm that the British government will chair Strand One of the negotiations and that London and Dublin will jointly chair Strand Three. They also affirm their decision to invite former US Senator George Mitchell, Gen John de Chastelain and Mr Harri Holkeri to play roles in chairing various aspects of the negotiations which require independent chairmanship.

They have agreed to invite the chairman of the group, Mr Mitchell, to chair the plenary sessions, to which the various strands and any sub-committees which the plenary may establish will report. He will also periodically review progress across the spectrum of negotiations.

Mr Mitchell will also assist with the help of his colleagues in giving effect to the ground rules for talks. Gen de Chastelain has been invited to chair Strand Two of the talks and will also chair the business committee, unless the participants were to decide otherwise. Mr Holkeri will act as alternate chairman in any of the independent chairmanship roles.

At the start of the session, the leader of each negotiating team will be asked to make a formal declaration committing his or her party to the principles of democracy and non-violence. The commitments will be confirmed in a public statement on behalf of all the participants.

The plenary session will then appoint a business committee, composed of representatives of the two governments and the political parties. Its purpose is to co-ordinate progress and procedures in the negotiations it will not deal with substantive matters but will address unresolved procedural issues.

There will then be a round of statements in which each delegation can set out its approach to the negotiations and its position on key issues.

According to the scenario for the opening session, both governments' will reiterate the view of the Mitchell report that the parties should consider an approach under which some decommissioning would take place during the proposed all party negotiations rather than before or after.

THE two governments have also agreed to invite Mr Mitchell, after open discussion in the plenary session, to "satisfy himself that there are clear indications of good intent on the part of all the participants to work constructively and in good "faith to secure the implementation of all aspects of the report in the context of an inclusive and dynamic process which builds trust and confidence as progress is made on the issues".

Once he has reported that is satisfied, the two governments will propose that a sub committee of the representing all the participants and chaired by Mr Mitchell be established with terms of reference to deal with decommissioning.

These would include securing agreement on the modalities of decommissioning on the basis of the guidelines contained in the Mitchell report advising both governments' on the legislative and practical implications of the recommended course and reaching agreement on any other necessary arrangements.

"Once the decommissioning issue has been addressed in this way, the independent chairman will make a concluding statement and the opening plenary session will come to an end. The negotiations on the issues in the three strands and the sub-committee will then proceed along side each other. The independent chairman may periodically brief the plenary on the progress made in the sub-committee," the paper states.

The agenda for the first session on Monday says the formal opening will be conducted by the two governments and will include the "handover" to the independent chairman, who will make some introductory remarks. Discussions will later begin on the international body's proposals on decommissioning, followed by the adoption of the comprehensive agenda for negotiations and procedural rules.