The UDA's decision to extend its year-long ceasefire indefinitely has received a positive but guarded response from the British and Irish governments and political parties.
While the UDA was recently blamed by the PSNI Chief Constable Mr Hugh Orde for murder, "punishment" attacks, drug dealing, racketeering and other criminality, it insisted it was committed to peace.
Police believe the UDA murdered young Catholic man Mr James McMahon in Lisburn, Co Antrim in November - an issue which Sinn Féin's Mr Martin McGuinness this week raised with the British and Irish governments. The UDA through its political representatives in the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) said at a Belfast press conference yesterday it intended to continue its ceasefire, but this time on an "indefinite" basis.
"We hope that that the outcome of the current talks will be an agreement that all communities in Northern Ireland can accept," said Mr Tommy Kirkham of the UPRG, who read out the UDA statement.
"While we remain deeply suspicious of the intentions and objectives of the republican movement, we wish to develop relationships with the broader nationalist community based on mutual respect and equity," the UDA statement added.
"In the past both communities have inflicted great hurt on each other.
"We wish to leave this painful legacy behind, and move forward towards a new Northern Ireland, which is a warm house for both communities and is free from all forms of sectarianism and racism.
"In order to provide the required space in which these objectives can be further pursued, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Ulster Defence Association, and Ulster Young Militants have agreed to the indefinite extension of their military inactivity," the UDA said.
This development in part follows from behind-the-scenes and some public activity involving the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern; the President, Mrs McAleese and the Northern Secretary Mr Paul Murphy.
The Taoiseach, who recently met UDA-associated figures, welcomed the statement and noted the organisation's wish to develop relations with the nationalist community.
The Taoiseach said he looked forward to "continuing to work with the political representatives of loyalism in further developing a constructive partnership between us".
Mr McGuinness said he did not take the statement at "face value", but added that he would be "warmly welcoming if the statement means that this is clearly marking an end to sectarian violence by the UDA".
The SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, said the peace commitment would be welcomed if it were truly honoured in practice. "Too often however such statements have not led to the end of attacks and intimidation on the ground. Because of hard experience, nationalists will retain some scepticism," he added.
Mr Murphy said the statement may mark a turning point, but the government would "have to monitor events over the next number of weeks and months".
