This DUP position paper (paper 1), dated 21 October 1996, addresses the rationale and necessity for decommissioning illegal weapons. It argues that groups committed to peace and democracy should not need weapons and that decommissioning is a more sincere gesture than mere rhetoric. The paper criticizes the British and Dublin governments for their initial requirements for decommissioning to facilitate negotiations. It highlights the evolving government stance, from demanding total decommissioning to accepting partial progress as a confidence-building measure. The document emphasizes the need for actual decommissioning before substantive negotiations can proceed. It argues that constrasting views exist within the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), with David Trimble advocating for decommissioning before the end of the opening plenary, while his deputy, Mr Taylor, calls for mutual decommissioning by both loyalist and republican paramilitaries. The paper critiques the Mitchell Report's recommendation for 'parallel decommissioning' as insufficient and reaffirms the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) stance that total decommissioning should precede any negotiations. The document concludes by emphasizing the need for a specific, verifiable program for total disarmament, linked to a timetable rather than concessions within the talks process.
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