While the tone of the latest IRA statement is encouraging, loyalists have yet to be convinced republicans will disarm, according to Mr David Ervine, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP).
"The content of the statement, perhaps for the first time in any IRA statement, shows a lack of begrudgery," he said.
"But from a PUP point of view it does not answer the question `Is the war over?' " An Ulster Democratic Party spokesman, the party most closely associated with the paramilitary UDA, was less upbeat.
Mr Gary McMichael said the prospect of loyalist decommissioning had not been brought any closer by the statement.
"It doesn't change anything. There is not enough clarity about what the IRA intends to do, or rather about when they do it.
"Essentially, on the issue of modalities to my knowledge both the UDA and the UVF agreed those with De Chastelain almost two years ago. There is a big difference between saying how you would decommission and saying `now we are going to do it'."
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition leader Ms Monica McWilliams welcomed the statement, saying decommissioning would necessarily be a gradual process.
"It will not happen overnight, and substantial progress has been made over recent months and years," she said.
Alliance Party leader Mr Sean Neeson said while the statement was a positive development he was disappointed no time had been provided for decommissioning. "In the present circumstances, this IRA statement is not enough to get us out of the dilemma facing us this week," he said.
The Alliance Party has also criticised the SDLP for failing to endorse the new police service.
"The stubborn refusal of the SDLP to embrace policing reform following the government's latest package and to encourage young nationalists to join the police demonstrates an attitude of gross disregard for the law," the party's justice spokesman, Mr Stephen Farry, said.
