In a statement dated 30 July 1996, John Taylor, Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), addressed the issue of decommissioning of arms during the multi-party talks at Stormont. Taylor emphasized that the UUP is not demanding unilateral decommissioning from Loyalist paramilitaries, but rather a mutual and simultaneous decommissioning from both Loyalist and Republican paramilitaries. He referenced the Mitchell Report, particularly paragraph 34, which suggests that some decommissioning should occur during the multi-party talks. Taylor criticized the Irish Government and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) for not adhering to this recommendation. He reiterated that Unionists cannot negotiate with PIRA/Sinn Féin [sic] under the threat of illegal arms and stressed the importance of reducing illegal arms from both sides. Taylor concluded by asserting that the modalities for mutual and partial decommissioning must be agreed upon in advance, especially given the perceived manipulation by the Irish Government to facilitate Sinn Féin/ PIRA's [sic]entry into the talks.
(To go a specific resource item, please click on its link.)
None
Copyright
None
Physical Copy Information
None
Digital Copy Information
None