Political figures welcome IRA weapons move

The European Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, last night welcomed the IRA statement.

The European Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, last night welcomed the IRA statement.

"Violence has no place in a democratic Europe. The European Union is founded on principles of peace, reconciliation and respect for all traditions," he said.

"I hope the people of Northern Ireland will be able to play their part in the life of Europe free from the threat of violence."

The Health Commissioner, Mr David Byrne, who took part in negotiating the Belfast Agreement as attorney general, also welcomed the IRA's move.

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"It is an important development. I have a very strong wish to see the benefits of the agreement being fully realised and these moves are extremely welcome," he said.

The Green Party Leader, Mr Trevor Sargent T.D., gave a "guarded welcome" to the IRA statement on decommissioning.

However, he emphasised that there was a need to deliver on the expectations that have been created.

"Any move on decommissioning would have to be a welcome move but that there was now a pressing need to deliver on the expectations that have been created," he said.

"Any lack of progress will create a further political vacuum, which will only weaken the Good Friday agreement and make it more difficult to win back the confidence which is essential to building progress."

The president of the Workers' Party, Mr Seβn Garland, welcomed the announcement that the IRA had commenced decommissioning.

" We now must also see an end to the obscenity of so-called 'punishment beatings'," he said.

"We call upon the British government to introduce a Bill of Rights as demanded by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association over 30 years ago."

Mr Garland said there was now a strong obligation on loyalist paramilitaries to also commence decommissioning their weapons.