In January 2000 John de Chastelain, the Canadian general heading the International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), delivered a report to the British and Irish government. De Chastelain said while the Provisional IRA and Loyalist paramilitary groups maintained their commitment to decommissioning, he was yet to see concrete evidence that it had begun. De Chastelain’s report noted that full decommissioning would not occur before May 22nd, the deadline specified in the Good Friday Agreement:
“1. In our report of December 10th the Commission undertook to report further on decommissioning in January. That is this report. Since December, the commission has held further discussions with representatives of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).
2. Our previous report stated our belief that the results of the Mitchell review and the designation of IRA and UFF contacts, in addition to the UVF contact already in place, gave the basis for an assessment that decommissioning will happen. While we believe that conclusion was well founded we await further evidence to substantiate it.
3. The IRA contact has assured us of the unequivocal continuing support of his organisation for the current political process. We have been made aware of, and recognise, the difficulties facing the IRA leadership in moving on decommissioning at this time. We are also conscious that the maintenance of the ceasefire, and of those of the UVF and UFF, have played, and continue to play, an important part in the political advances that have been achieved to date, and that are progressing. Further, our contact has very recently emphasised that there is no threat to the peace process from the IRA. All of these factors are significant. But our sole task is decommissioning and to date we have received no information from the IRA as to when decommissioning will start.
4. In our most recent discussion with the UVF contact, he reminded us of the discussions he held with the commission over a long period, including the UVF’s early engagement on the issues of modalities. He has also reiterated the UVF stance that while it is prepared to consider moving on decommissioning, it will not do so until it has received an unequivocal statement from the IRA that the war is over.
5. Similarly, our most recent discussion with the representatives of the UFF has confirmed their position stated during our earlier meeting, to the effect that while that group too is prepared to consider moving on decommissioning, it will not do so until it is clear the IRA will decommission.
6. We will continue our efforts to continue the commission’s role in the manner and within the timeframe approved by the political parties and the two governments. However, given our understanding of the quantity of arms held by the paramilitary groups, and the dispersed nature of their locations, we believe a time will soon be reached beyond which it will be logistically impossible for us to complete our task by [the decommissioning deadline of] May 22nd. We remain prepared to state, at an appropriate date, when we believe decommissioning must start and how it must proceed if our mandate is to be fulfilled within the required period. But decommissioning is a voluntary act; any schedule we produce will only be of value if those who have the arms agree to follow it.
7. The foregoing noted, intensive negotiations have taken place during the past few days. The commission will report further to the governments in the event that ongoing negotiations lead to concrete results.
8. If it becomes clear to us that decommissioning is not to happen, the commission will recommend to the governments that it be disbanded.”