Northern Ireland's pro-Agreement parties must respond to the long-awaited proposals aimed at preventing the collapse of the Belfast Agreement by Monday. However, the success of the initiative also hinges on IRA decommissioning.
The proposals describe decommissioning as "indispensable" to the Agreement. "This issue must be resolved in a manner acceptable to, and verified by, the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning in accordance with its basic mandate," the ten-page document says.
Pro-Agreement parties reacted cautiously to the document saying they would consult with their parties before issuing a more considered response.
However, the leader of the the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr David Trimble, reiterated that his party would only support the initiative in the event of IRA weapons being handed in.
"In the absence of decommissioning there will be no progress and consequently no Ulster Unionist will be able to offer himself for election as first minister," he said.The proposals, which Irish and British government officials have been working on for two-and-a-half weeks, were delivered to the political parties at 10 a.m. as the latest victim of loyalist paramilitary violence Mr Gavin Brett was buried in Glengormley.
On policing the document says both Dublin and London "remain committed to a new beginning in policing on the basis set out int he Good Friday Agreement. The British government reaffirms its determination to bring about such a new beginning by implementing the Patten Report."
The plan went on to say the British government would publish a revised Implementation Plan for policing, with greater detail.
The document adds that the Government has confirmed the Garda will work in "the closest co-operation with the new police service and will join with them in taking all necessary measures to counter any remaining terrorist threat and to enable the normalisation of security arrangements".
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Mr Cowen: "Cool reflection"
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The document also says the issue of collusion between paramilitary organisations and the RUC was of "grave concern" and a judge from outside Britain and Ireland would be appointed by the governments to inquire into the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill, Portadown solicitor Rosemary Nelson, and LVF hitman Billy Wright.
ThePrades Commission and the way it operates will be reviewed, as part of the plan despite having had "four successful years of operation against a difficult background".
The document addresses unionist and nationalist concerns over weapons, the British army and its military installations, police reforms and the operation of the political institutions.
The Taoiseach, speaking in Galway, said he believed the proposals were balanced.
"We would ask them [the parties] to study them [the proposals], to look at all the consequences of it, and hopefully find a way of accepting it", Mr Ahern added.
US President Mr George W Bush telephoned Mr Blair and Mr Ahern today to endorse the new plan. "I believe the package is fair and that it charts the way forward in areas central to the Good Friday Agreement," Mr Bush said in a statement.
"Substantial progress on decommissioning is an essential part of today's package. The United States stands ready to help in any way that the governments and the parties find useful.
"I now urge all parties in Northern Ireland to reflect carefully on today's proposals and to do everything in their power to make permanent the progress of the past three years by taking the next steps to implement the Good Friday Agreement."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, urged the parties to examine the plan carefully before responding and admitted that there would be elements that they would not be happy with.
The Northern Ireland secretary said it was now time for "cool reflection" and that the plan was the result of the "best efforts of the two governments".
