The Northern Ireland peace process was significantly strengthened yesterday with the announcement that the IRA had opened a number of arms dumps to international inspectors who ensured these weapons and explosives could not be used without their detection.
The IRA also re-established contact with Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body, which will have responsibility for establishing that the IRA eventually carries out its main commitment to completely and verifiably put its arms beyond use.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, along with the main pro-agreement parties hailed the IRA move as significant and historic. The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said it was "ground-breaking" and unprecedented in the history of armed Irish republicanism. President Clinton said the inspection of IRA arms dumps was a "tremendous boost" for the Northern Ireland peace process.
However, the DUP and other anti-agreement unionists were dismissive of the move. The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said it was a "stunt" and a "gimmick".
While difficult political and community problems such as policing and Drumcree remain, the IRA gesture has done much to calm political nerves and to provide reassurance for the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and pro-Belfast Agreement unionists.
Word of the arms inspection came yesterday morning when the international inspectors, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and Mr Martti Ahtisaari, met the Mr Blair and the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, at Downing Street.
The inspectors and the IRA issued separate statements confirming that a "substantial" amount of arms and explosives were seen by former Finnish president Mr Ahtisaari and ex-African National Congress general secretary Mr Ramaphosa.
No dates were given for the inspection but the inspectors said they "ensured that the weapons and explosives cannot be used without our detection". Again, no detail was provided but there was speculation that a special seal may have been used by the inspectors to ensure the dumps could not be tampered with without their knowledge.
The tenor of the statement by Mr Ramaphosa and Mr Ahtisaari indicated that there should be little difficulty in the inspectors regularly re-checking the dumps.
"We plan to re-inspect the arms dumps on a regular basis," they said.
"The process that led to the first inspection visit and the way in which it was carried out make us believe that this is a genuine effort by the IRA to advance the peace process," they added.
The IRA statement was also positively worded. "The leadership of the IRA have consistently sought to enhance the peace process. This initiative demonstrates once more our commitment to securing a just and lasting peace," it said.
The British and Irish governments viewed the IRA's decision to resume contact with Gen de Chastelain as another sign of the IRA's intention to eventually put its arms beyond use.
Mr Adams said the IRA move was "courageous and imaginative". He acknowledged it aroused concern within republicanism. "Let no one think this has been done without difficulties. Let no one think there aren't all sorts of worries opened up within republicanism, because there are," he said.
The main immediate beneficiary of the IRA gesture may be Mr Trimble, who was in the Middle East yesterday. He said he looked forward to further progress on arms.
"You can say it is only a first step, but at the same time let's also acknowledge that the first step has occurred, and that something that people doubted whether it would happen or not has happened," he said. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, hoped arms decommissioning would now fade from the political agenda. "It gives the confidence to the institutions to go on from strength. This was required for David Trimble. This is a good achievement for him," he said.
