The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) has praised the British government's "amazing progress" on dismantling the military structure in Northern Ireland.
In a report published yesterday, the four commissioners said British commitments to "normalise" the security apparatus had gone according to timetable. This has included meeting targets covering the number of British soldiers and bases in Northern Ireland, the dismantling of army watchtowers along the Border, the defortification of police stations and the gradual removal of special legislation.
The commissioners called for a thorough review of the continued provision for non-jury Diplock courts, which expires in two years' time, and they expressed the hope that the special courts would become "less and less applicable".
Commissioner Joe Brosnan, speaking on the report, said he hoped that the legislation providing for non-jury Diplock courts would be "fully reviewed".
"We hope that circumstances will then exist to align them more closely with the norm in other jurisdictions," he said.
The commissioners clarified further their concern at the lack of progress made by the loyalist UDA towards a purely political path and openly questioned how much time should be given to facilitate such a transformation. The IMC is due to publish a report late next month on current levels of paramilitary activity.
Yesterday's report includes a reference to the paramilitaries, stating clearly that the IRA "has abandoned terrorism and violence and does not pose any form of threat relevant to security normalisation".
Regarding other groups, the IMC doubts the ability of republican dissidents to mount a sustained campaign of violence against the security forces. It also reports that the loyalist paramilitaries do not pose a "terrorist-type threat to the security forces", nor are they likely to. The commissioners conclude that they do not pose a threat relevant to security normalisation.
The report notes with encouragement the "statement of intent" published by the UVF in May regarding decommissioning.
However, it also notes that the UDA has not provided such a commitment. Commissioner Lord John Alderdice noted the lack of progress made by the UDA regarding the disposal of weapons and warned that "peace processes are not a way of life" but a means to an end, and results should be evident soon, before time is called on conflict transformation initiatives.
The Government welcomed the report yesterday. In a statement, the Government said it shared the assessment by the IMC that the provisional IRA was not planning a return to paramilitarism but added that it shared the IMC's concern that dissident republicans still posed a threat.
"The towers and observation posts have gone and the defortification of police stations continues," said Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan. "All in all there has been a significant shift towards a more normal policing environment."
Mr Lenihan said these developments should be built on to allow the elected members of the Assembly to take responsibility for running the police and criminal justice.
The IMC's findings were also welcomed by Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward. However, Independent unionist MEP Jim Allister said the IMC ignored the continued existence of the IRA army council.