In June 1999 John de Chastelain, the Canadian general heading the International Commission on Decommissioning, wrote to Northern Ireland’s political parties, seeking information about the progress of arms decommissioning by paramilitary groups:

“The British and Irish Governments have asked the commission to enter into intensive discussions with all the parties and to produce a report no later than June 29th.

In preparing such a report the commission wishes to seek answers to specific questions by no later than noon on Monday June 28th. The commission then intends to draft its report, which it will submit to the two governments during the afternoon of June 29th.

Questions to which the commission seeks answers:

1. Does your party agree that decommissioning of all paramilitary arms should take place by May 22nd 2000, as set forth in the Good Friday Agreement, and in the context of the implementation of the overall agreement?

2. Are there any areas of implementation of the overall agreement which would demonstrably facilitate the decommissioning process?

3. The commission is aware of a number of public statements by paramilitary groups since 10 April 1998 regarding decommissioning. Can your party assist the commission in determining the willingness of paramilitary groups to decommission their weapons by May 22nd 2000.

If so:

a. Is the paramilitary group willing to give the commission a firm basis for expecting that decommissioning will take place within the timescale set forth in the Good Friday Agreement?

b. While we believe we have general agreement on schemes to be used for decommissioning, when can we expect to receive – or else conduct negotiations to define – confirmation of the practical modalities (e.g types of weapons and in what order, location of decommissioning events, general time parameters)?”