Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid today called on all paramilitary groups to follow in the footsteps of the IRA and begin the decommissioning process.
Speaking at a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, Dr Reid said there had been an "historic" move forward on decommissioning over the past six months.
However, he said, it was an "essential part" of the Belfast Agreement for all paramilitary groups to put their weapons beyond use.
Dr Reid said the IRA’s decision to begin decommissioning was a "very significant step forward", adding: "I would encourage those who have not started to do so".
Mr Cowen also called on all paramilitary groups to commence the decommissioning process and said he understood there had been loyalist engagement with Gen de Chastelain’s commission.
"We understand that there is, and has been, loyalist engagement with the de Chastelain body but obviously it hasn't been able to report the sort of progress we have seen on the republican paramilitary side", said Mr Cowen.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also commented on this morning’s announcement by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, allowing the expansion of the Sellafield nuclear waste retreatment plant.
In a 90-page ruling, the tribunal rejected the Government’s attempt to stop the commissioning of the MOX plant in Cumbria.
Mr Cowen said the Irish Government would continue to use whatever legal remedies were still open to them to fight the ruling and the Attorney-General's Office is studying the legal implications of the decision.
Dr Reid welcomed the ruling but said the British government fully respected Irish concerns. He assured Minister Cowen that safety and security at Sellafield would remain of paramount importantance to the British administration.