DECOMMISSIONING takes second place to the holding of all-inclusive talks, the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said yesterday.
Speaking on a visit to Derry she said: "We want to see the Mitchell Six Agreement on decommissioning being the focus of that process. But what is important, I think, is that decommissioning is secondary to actually getting people into talks. That is what is important."
Referring to speculation about a renewed IRA ceasefire, Dr Mowlarn said it was up to the IRA to define for itself what that ceasefire would look like.
"We have said time and time again that a ceasefire has to be definitive, it has to be there in a form that is there in word and deed so that people will know that it is serious.
"That is the problem that everybody has and we have it particularly after the acts of violence we have seen in recent weeks in England. That is what we need and when we get that, we will be very keen to see Sinn Fein in the talks process. We have said time and time again we want the talks to be inclusive," she said.
The Secretary of State also described the Bloody Sunday killings and subsequent events as unacceptable. Responding to a question as to whether she would hold a fresh inquiry into the killings, Dr Mowlam said: "To be honest with you, I have not had time to read all the material because I have had a lot to read in the last week.
"But I have said right from the beginning that Bloody Sunday and what happened to people on Bloody Sunday and what happened to their families and friends since, is a situation that I find totally unacceptable . . . we are going to have to do something.
"I will make a decision but I certainly won't let it sit and fester as it has done up to now because that is the most unhealthy situation that we could have."
She also rejected calls for an independent inquiry into the murder of Mr Robert Ham ill, who died almost two weeks after he was attacked by a mob in Portadown. "My first thoughts are inevitably with his family and friends and for what they've gone through for the last 13 days. It is an appalling act of sectarian bigotry in my view and I am very pleased that the RUC are searching for the people who did it.
"I would hold off pushing for an inquiry myself until I knew exactly what the details are, but there is no doubt in my mind, having talked to the RUC about it in general terms, that they are doing all they can," she said.