The IRA's "unprecedented" decommissioning of its weaponry is total and cannot be repeated, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams declared following Gen John de Chastelain's statement yesterday.
The Canadian general had overseen the decommissioning over the last few days, said Mr Adams: "The two independent witnesses have reported. There is no encore. That's it. It's finished. Done," he told a Waterfront Hall press conference.
The IRA's move now poses major challenges for unionists: "How long can unionism argue about weapons that have now been put beyond use? The fact is that they can't be photographed now. The fact is that there is no encore. It can't be done again.
"Some unionists may fear that this is a tactical manoeuvre, or an attempt to trap them. It is not. Some unionists have expressed fears about a Plan B. There is no Plan B. There is no secret agenda," he declared.
Sceptics should be ignored, he said: "What are they saying? That the general is telling lies? That he is part of some conspiracy, that the two clergymen are in some way Machiavellian figures who are trying to fool people?
"I think what has been achieved is totally unprecedented. It is all the more remarkable that it happened at a time when other armed groups are very, very active. I do think that what has been achieved is mighty," he said.
Pressed about the IRA's continued existence, the SF president said: "The IRA organisation does exist, but it has just formally declared an end to its armed campaign, has put its weapons beyond use and is somewhere in the 10th year of its cessation.
"I think the IRA has sent a positive message to all of the other armed groups. Some unionists might distrust us and they might think that this is a trap, or a tactical move. It is a genuine effort. It is done, it can't be undone."
The complete decommissioning of IRA weaponry could not have happened last December, Mr Adams argued.
"It would not have worked. The peace process was going into freefall. The atmosphere was poisoned. Unionists were going into an election where it struck us that they weren't going to change their position.
"We are where we are. Let's look to the future. What are we going to do from here in?" said Mr Adams, who repeatedly avoided putting pressure on the Democratic Unionist Party to respond quickly to the IRA's move.
"The general gave his press conference at 2pm. It is now a quarter to five. It is a bit early, you know. Let Ian Paisley absorb the content of all of this. The governments have given a series of commitments and there is a rolling timetable of what we would refer to as mechanical issues.
"There is enough to keep us busy in the time ahead. Nothing that has been announced today is a threat to anyone. Let's bed the Good Friday Agreement down, let's build the process," he declared.
Asked, however, if the IRA has kept some weapons for the defence of nationalist areas from loyalist attacks, Mr Adams replied curtly: "It is not an issue. Don't be wasting your time on that one."
He said he hoped that IRA members would join Sinn Féin, or become involved in community groups: "We would welcome them into SF. Many of our members are former IRA volunteers. I would like to think that they would all remain politically active."
Commending the IRA leadership for "moving so decisively", he said he acknowledged that the decommissioning of its arsenal will "be difficult for many republicans".
"Both governments now need to be focused, decisive and creative. They need to implement the Good Friday Agreement as they have promised to do.
"There must be progress on equality, policing, human rights, people on the run and victims," Mr Adams said.
