The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, has expressed disappointment at the latest Provisional IRA statement, saying it contained nothing new.
"It is a bit of a disappointment to see that they have nothing new to say and that there is no new proposal contained in it. I think that is most unfortunate," Mr Trimble said.
In the statement released on Saturday, the Provisional IRA said it would not be pressurised into decommissioning under British government or unionist threats. However, the paramilitary group said the arms issue had to be dealt with and was "a necessary objective of a genuine peace process".
The statement reiterated that the IRA did not present a threat to the process, and said unionists and the British government were to blame for the stalemate.
It insisted the IRA had never entered into any agreement or undertaking at any time on any aspect of decommissioning, but said the IRA believed the crisis could be averted and the arms issue resolved.
Neither Downing Street nor the Northern Ireland Office would comment on the statement.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said the statement was the response he had warned about after Mr Peter Mandelson accused the Provisionals of betrayal. He urged the Northern Ireland Secretary to think about his role, saying it needed to be positive. He said there was no reason for the institutions to be suspended.
Mr Adams and Mr Trimble are expected to meet again this week in an attempt to resolve the crisis over decommissioning. A meeting between the two men at Stormont on Saturday lasted only 15 minutes and failed to find a way forward.
Speaking before the meeting, Mr Trimble said he would be telling Mr Adams there must be a start to decommissioning if the political process was to be rescued.
A Sinn Fein spokesman said Mr Adams, who has had several meetings with the Provisional IRA leadership in recent days, was involved in a very "delicate and difficult" situation.
"He is involved in what used to be called in the Middle East `shuttle diplomacy', going between the various groups to see if there is any latitude or wriggle room."
Speaking afterwards, Mr Adams described his discussion with Mr Trimble as "constructive" and said they had arranged to meet again. Asked if progress had been made, he said: "We are still trying."
Mr Trimble would give no details about the content of the discussion. "We had an exchange of views and I can't say anything further than that," he said.
The North's Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, said it was time Sinn Fein stopped "waffling" about decommissioning. There was a need for deeds, not just words, on the issue, he said.
Nationalists on both sides of the Border had made clear they wanted decommissioning to take place.