A means had been found to resolve the issue of arms "once and for all", the Taoiseach said on RTE radio yesterday. And the IRA had given an explicit commitment to put arms beyond use "that could not be clearer".
In an interview on the station's This Week programme, Mr Ahern emphasised that there was only one decision on the agenda. They could either go back to the negative politics of the past, with the risks of all the mayhem of the past, or they could move forward.
"There cannot be a status quo. It is either drifting back or moving forward, and I respectfully say to everyone there can only be one answer to that question."
Mr Ahern believed the joint statement by the Irish and British governments, together with the IRA statement, represented a huge leap forward, because they now had "a map for a comprehensive implementation of the Good Friday agreement".
He continued: "We have at last found a means of resolving, once and for all, the issue of arms, which has bedevilled the process for the past two years. Through the IRA statement and the measures agreed by the two governments, we now have a commitment in explicit terms by the IRA itself that arms will be put beyond use, and a process by which that is to be done under the de Chastelain commission."
The Taoiseach noted comments made by the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr David Trimble, that there were a number of areas on which he needed clarification. Mr Ahern added: "He is entitled to that."
The Taoiseach pointed out that Mr Trimble had worked very hard on the process and had experienced considerable difficulties within his party.
Asked if he believed that the IRA war was "over, done with, a thing of the past", Mr Ahern replied: "Well, I think their words are very strong and very clear, and I think anybody interpreting their statement . . . can see just how strong and unequivocal it is."
It was put to him that the IRA had made it clear that it was not going to hand over any of its weaponry or explosives and would maintain control of these. Mr Ahern agreed, but said that the IRA would avoid risk to the public or misappropriation of weapons by others and would resume contact with the international body on decommissioning.
