Sir, - John Waters is being disingenuous to say the least in arguing (Opinion, January 19th) that the Belfast Agreement makes no provision for decommissioning before May 23rd, 2000.
His own column contains the key sentence from the decommissioning section of the agreement: "All participants accordingly reaffirm their commitment to total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations".
This commitment is clear. It commits Sinn Fein to the disarmament of the IRA. Since both the British and Irish governments and all other signatories to the Belfast Agreement regard Sinn Fein and the IRA as essentially the same organisation, it also directly commits Sinn Fein to decommissioning.
The Ulster Unionist party has made an absolute commitment to accepting two Sinn Fein ministers into the new Executive once a credible start has been made to a process of decommissioning. The Ulster Unionist Party is also working hard to ensure that all of the necessary legislation is in place by March 10th.
Sinn Fein must now reaffirm its intention to abide by their Good Friday commitment - and John Waters should stop encouraging them to avoid this vital responsibility. - Yours, etc., Rt Hon John D. Taylor MP,
Deputy Party Leader, UUP Assembly Member, Parliament Buildings, Belfast 4.