The SDLP leader has welcomed the decommissioning body's statement, saying he was looking forward to its progress reports on the disarmament of all paramilitary weapons.
Mr John Hume insisted it was his party which had urged a statement of this nature during the Weston Park talks in England several weeks ago.
"The SDLP proposed at Weston Park that the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning should establish, as a matter of urgency, that all armed groups agree methods to put their arms completely and verifiably beyond use.
"We therefore welcome today's statement from the IICD in respect of the initiation of a process that will put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use. We look forward to IICD reports of further significant developments and want to see all armed groups make real progress on decommissioning through the IICD," Mr Hume concluded.
