The IRA has confirmed that they have appointed an interlocutor to enter into negotiations with General de Chastelain and the Decommissioning body. The statement said that on Wednesday November 17, the IRA leadership announced that following the establishment of the institutions agreed on Good Friday last year, they would appoint a representative to enter into discussions with the General and the Decommissioning body.
In a statement given to RTÉ, the IRA said: "We have since expressed our concerns at the conditions which the UUP have placed on these institutions. The implications of these serious developments are being carefully considered. "The statement said that despite this, the IRA would honour its commitment and it confirmed that a representative has now been appointed to the decommissioning body.
Earlier, the establishment of the North-South Ministerial Council and the removal of Articles 2 and 3 from the Constitution took place in Dublin. The first ceremony took place at Iveagh House in Dublin this morning, where the Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Andrews, and the Northern Secretary, Peter Mandelson, signed the necessary document. A short time later, the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, put his signature to a Constitutional amendment revoking the Republic's territorial claim to the North.
Following the ceremony at Iveagh House, the Attorney General, Michael McDowell, confirmed to a special meeting of the Cabinet that the British-Irish Agreement had entered into force. He also advised them on the manner in which the amendments to the Constitution were to take place. Articles 2 and 3 were then changed to drop the territorial claim on the six counties for ever and to establish the principle of consent.
The Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, then signed the orders that allow the North-South bodies and the British-Irish bodies to come into effect. Following the signings, the Taoiseach said that, in Ireland, North and South, the people now are sovereign. Whatever path they take in the future, he said, that path must be taken freely, with their consent.
However, he also said that, in our pride and joy, we must not forget those who suffered so tragically from the conflict of the past particularly over the past thirty years. He also said that the Government is considering the establishment of an annual Day of Remembrance. Following this morning's ceremonies, Mr Ahern telephoned both Tony Blair and David Trimble. He thanked and congratulated both of them.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, the Northern Secretary, Peter Mandelson, said that the people's demands had been heard by the politicians. Mr Mandelson said that trust had developed with every step that had been taken. It has been confirmed that the first meeting of the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will be held in London on December 17.
