The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, has criticised the IRA's decision to cease contact with Gen. John de Chastelain's decommissioning body and withdraw proposals on the arms issue before he could discuss the content of the latest arms report with the commission.
"We had a meeting at lunchtime today with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and they advised us to come and see the de Chastelain commission to seek further clarification from them.
"This is obviously an action which can only support those who viewed the so-called IRA offer on Friday evening as being simply a publicity gesture."
Speaking after a half-hour meeting with the commission last night, Mr Trimble outlined his belief that the IRA proposition was a device to divide the two governments from each other or from unionists.
Mr Trimble said the commission had not been able to give any "elucidation or elaboration" on the language used in the report which stated the IRA had indicated the context in which it would begin decommissioning. "So we are left wondering what was happening, whether it had any substance," he added.
The republican movement had failed to respond to the opportunity presented by the outcome of the Mitchell review, which led to the establishment of the institutions, according to Mr Trimble.
"Having squandered it in the way that it has been squandered, I wonder if the republicans have any idea of the damage that has been done to this process and have they any ideas as to how to recover or repair that damage."
Any hopes of "bouncing back quickly" from the suspension of the political institutions were not high "but shouldn't be written off," he concluded.
Mr John Taylor, the UUP deputy leader, said the Provisional IRA statement showed the paramilitary group was not committed to the peace process and that its proposals on decommissioning were not serious.
The SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, said serious questions had to be asked of the IRA.
"Yet again the republican movement seems to think it can play ducks and drakes with two governments, the rest of the political parties on the island of Ireland and people who voted for the Good Friday agreement," he said.
It had to be made clear to the Provisionals that this "pre-emptive strike" could not become "a bargaining chip" for them. The IRA had to establish if it was going to be part of "the new future" or if it planned to "thwart the wishes of both governments and world opinion".
The UK Unionist Party leader, Mr Robert McCartney, said the Provisionals' statement was absolutely predictable.
The Alliance Party said it was a retrograde step and called on Mr Gerry Adams to use his influence to bring the IRA back into discussions with Gen. de Chastelain. Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, the UVF's political wing, accused the IRA of behaving like spoilt children. "They were not happy and therefore they have made us all aware by this fit of pique."
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, claimed the statement proved the UUP had deceived its voters by saying the IRA was considering decommissioning. "The time has come to move on without them."