The Ulster Freedom Fighters have announced the appointment of five interlocutors from the organisation to liase with Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body. A meeting between the sides is expected within days.
In a statement yesterday the loyalist paramilitary group said it made the appointment to help the peace process. But it warned that it would not consider decommissioning before the IRA.
Six unarmed men wearing balaclavas and dressed in paramilitary garb delivered the announcement yesterday in a west Belfast club.
"We remain committed to playing our part in the search for a peaceful and democratic resolution of the conflict and view this decision as enhancing the prospects for attaining that goal," the statement said.
But it added: "Disarmament will only be considered in the context of the IRA having already begun to decommission its arsenal of weaponry."
Mr John White of the Ulster Democratic Party, the political wing of the UDA/UFF, has been identified as one of the interlocutors. A party spokesman said he would play an advisory role. Another interlocutor is thought to be the former loyalist prisoner, Mr Johnny Adair of west Belfast.
Mr White described the statement as "very positive," as it represented the last building block in the current process.
The UFF has been conducting internal discussions about the appointment of an interlocutor since the IRA assignment of a representative a week ago.
"Media speculation of a split over the appointment was not helpful. The men appointed are representative of the organisation as a whole. As the largest paramilitary group and the only one that hasn't split, all views had to be taken into account," added the UDP spokesman.
The Ulster Unionist MP for Lagan Valley, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, welcomed the statement and called on the IRA to take the lead in decommissioning.