The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said yesterday that if the decommissioning impasse was not resolved, it could prove difficult to implement the remainder of the Belfast Agreement.
Speaking to reporters in Derry, Dr Mowlam said she was still hopeful political progress would be made, despite the decommissioning issue.
"The Good Friday agreement is very clear. Decommissioning is an essential part of the agreement which has to be completed within two years, and I would like to see some progress as soon as possible.
"I hope it will happen. If not then there is going to be difficulty in implementing the whole of the Good Friday agreement.
"I am confident that we are still going to move forward with this process and for this to happen, all dimensions have to be working. It is about confidence, it is about trust and building the process, and we are continuing to do that," she said.