The strongest signal yet that IRA decommissioning is going ahead in coming weeks came from Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness yesterday, who said "something powerful" will happen.
Mr McGuinness indicated to journalists in west Belfast that "something very important" is about to take place.
He also said it was his view that the IRA would keep its word on the decommissioning of arms and explosives.
Mr McGuinness was asked by The Irish News about what would happen now in terms of political talks and IRA decommissioning.
The Mid Ulster MP said: "These are very important times.
"We as Irish republicans do fully understand the importance of everyone contributing to a successful outcome.
"The IRA issued a very serious statement which was widely welcomed throughout the international community.
"It is not lost on the people of Ireland and on the political parties here the huge significance of that statement. I actually don't think it is lost on unionists either, even though they would not choose to admit it at this stage.
"When the IRA said they were going to put their weapons beyond use... I believe that is going to happen. It is best left to General de Chastelain and to the IRA."
Significantly, Mr McGuinness said there would be interesting times in the Irish peace process in the coming weeks.
He was asked if he was surprised by reports that some IRA arms dumps had already been destroyed.
Mr McGuinness replied: "I am only going on the basis that the IRA on three occasions have put weapons beyond use and have done so in conjunction with General de Chastelain.
"I am not going to speculate about what is happening at the moment.
"Very clearly the IRA have made their statement. I believe they will keep their word. The IRA and General de Chastelain need space to complete this important project."
Turning to the issue of loyalist violence, Mr McGuinness urged unionist politicians such as the DUP's Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds to speak directly to loyalist paramilitaries in a bid to end attacks.
Mr McGuinness also unveiled a banner yesterday entitled 'Make Partition History', as preparations are made for a rally about Irish unity in Dublin on September 24.
DUP MP William McCrea called on the British government yesterday to recognise that the unionist community would not be in the business of putting Sinn Féin into government.
Meanwhile, the SDLP has criticised Secretary of State Peter Hain for stating he would not be rushed into any judgments on the UVF ceasefire.
Party leader Mark Durkan, after meeting Mr Hain and NIO security minister Shaun Woodward, said a failure to declare the UVF's ceasefire invalid after a bloody summer – which has seen the organisation kill four people in Belfast – was unacceptable.
"The UVF have been literally getting away with murder this summer," Mr Durkan said.
"It is not good enough for the secretary of state to shrug his shoulders and wring his hands."
Mr Hain said his first priority was to end all violence.
"My concern is to stop the murder and this awful violence which has just strained communities in Belfast and elsewhere. You do not necessarily do that by quick procedural fixes," Mr Hain said.
