President Bush,"Decommissioning will bring the North closer to a lasting peace"
Colin Powell has described yesterday's IRA statement on decommissioning as an "historic step forward in Northern Ireland".
The US Secretary of State said it was an example of what can be achieved when people of goodwill come together and recognise the time to put aside their differences to create a better life for their children.
The IRA move on decommissioning has also been welcomed by President George W. Bush, who said that it would bring Northern Ireland closer to a lasting peace.
Mr Bush was responding to the confirmation last night by the Independent International Commission, chaired by General John de Chastelain, that it had witnessed a significant decommissioning event in which arms, ammunition and explosives were put completely beyond use.
Mr Bush called on all sides in Northern Ireland to intensify their efforts to resolve the remaining outstanding issues in the peace process. He said that he hoped all paramilitary groups would build on the IRA move and work to achieve the total disarmament called for by the Good Friday Agreement.
He added that he hoped this act of decommissioning would lead to the full functioning of the political institutions of the Agreement.
