Assembly: Talks between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin about reforming the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive could begin in the new year, according to Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern.
He acknowledged that little political movement would take place until the Independent Monitoring Commission had verified that the IRA had stopped all actions.
The decommissioning of IRA weaponry would take place without photographs, he said. Photographic evidence had been a key demand of the Democratic Unionist Party last December.
However, he left open the possibility that the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning might make some arrangement with the IRA to boost public confidence.
Cautiously welcoming the statement, Mr Ahern was careful when questioned about the IRA leadership not putting its decision on ending its campaign to a full vote at an IRA convention.
"It isn't for us to go into the internal machinations of an illegal paramilitary organisation. We have looked at the statement . . . It is a very clear statement. It has in words, shown a shift towards a new peaceful, entirely peaceful mode which would comply with the conditions laid down in paragraph 13 of the joint declaration.
This document said: "Paramilitarism and sectarian violence, therefore, must be brought to an end, from whichever part of the community they come.
"We need to see an immediate, full and permanent cessation of all paramilitary activity, including military attacks, training, targeting, intelligence gathering, acquisition or development of arms or weapons, other preparations for terrorist campaigns, punishment beatings and attacks and involvement in riots.
"Moreover, the practice of exiling must come to an end and the exiled must feel free to return in safety. Similarly, sectarian attacks and intimidation directed at vulnerable communities must cease."
The IMC will now play a crucial role in deciding whether the IRA keeps its promises,in reports due in October and January, in addition to the work of the IICD, headed by Gen John De Chastelain.
Mr Ahern said the IRA had responded to the clear line taken by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and other ministers since January, when they warned Sinn Féin and the IRA that they had worn the patience of Dublin and London.
The governments' demands for guarantees on criminality were justified, he said, "since there has been a fair bit of paramilitary activity going on that has dampened trust and confidence."
The IMC would judge whether future criminality was linked to the IRA, though criminality by people once associated with the IRA would be dealt with by the security forces and the Criminal Assets Bureau in the normal way.
