The international decommissioning body was anxious to find out what the IRA meant by putting its arms "beyond use", Gen John de Chastelain said in Dublin yesterday.
"Now that the IRA has re-engaged with us, we are anxious to find out what their commitment to put arms beyond use involves and whether it meets the mandate we have been tasked to carry out. We will continue to work towards that end as long as we feel there can be a successful outcome."
Speaking in UCD at a seminar organised by the Institute for British and Irish Studies, the general said the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning "continues to do what it can to implement its mandate". The Belfast Agreement states that the commission "will monitor, review and verify progress on decommissioning of illegal arms, and will report to both Governments at regular intervals".
The general noted that the IRA announcement on May 6th last had spoken of putting arms "completely and verifiably" beyond use.
He pointed out this was an elaboration on the IRA statement given privately to the commission when the institutions were being suspended on February 11th, which undertook to consider a process to put arms beyond use but did not contain the words "completely and verifiably".