Eames hopeful of move on decommissioning
Tuesday, 16 October 2001 14:30
Dr Robin Eames has said that there were grounds to hope that movement on decommissioning by paramilitary groups is imminent. The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh made the comments as he was addressing the Armagh Diocesan Synod today.
He said that one consequence of the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September was that world opinion now saw there was no justification, excuse, or warped reason for any paramilitary arms to be kept available for use.
The Archbishop said that definite and verifiable destruction of such arms would have a conclusive and lasting effect on peoples' lives. He said that if the IRA could match such a demand he believed it would unlock an entire process.
Meanwhile, the Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, has said that there was still time to prevent the resignation of his party's ministers at Stormont.
Speaking from Washington, where he is on a four-day visit, Mr Trimble said that he hoped newspaper speculation predicting a start to IRA decommissioning would prove to be true.
