Oral Answers to Questions — Good Friday Agreement

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am 1:46 pm ar 24 Chwefror 1999.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Dr Mo Mowlam Dr Mo Mowlam Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office 1:46, 24 Chwefror 1999

There has been only one decommissioning—which we welcome—that by the LVF. Decommissioning is now needed of the other parties represented in the talks; it is not only Sinn Fein-IRA but the loyalist paramilitaries. We have made it very clear that decommissioning has to happen for progress to be made. It is not a precondition but an obligation. As the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Mr. Öpik) said, it is in the spirit of the agreement. It is no good for us simply to say, "This must happen, that must happen," although we both may fundamentally believe that both are necessary. What has to happen is that the parties in the process who signed up to the good Friday agreement do what they are doing in Belfast now: keep talking and find a way forward.