The North's First Minister Mr David Trimble has "stuck his neck out" in the belief the IRA will disarm, Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid said today.
As the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister prepared for talks at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down in advance of Mr Trimble's planned resignation as First Minister at the Stormont Assembly, Dr Reid said he also believed the IRA would decommission.
He said: "I actually think it will be done. I believe that David Trimble believes that it could be done and he has stuck his neck out in taking a risk. It hasn't been done as quickly or as substantially as David believes.
"I am only going on what he says, and he says that it has to be brought to a head.
"But let me just say this: I believe if there was a substantial and significant move forward on the putting of weapons beyond use by the IRA it would be welcomed by the whole community not just by unionists," Dr Reid said.
He told RTE radio this morning: "I think if it was done in some sort of physical, concrete form, however this is done - to the satisfaction of the international commission on decommissioning - then I think all of us should recognise what an historic and monumental move that would be."
Mr Trimble is due to quit as First Minister on Sunday if there is not enough movement on decommissioning by the IRA.
PA