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The
full text of an IRA statement issued this afternoon.
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2000-05-06
The
leadership of the IRA is committed to a just and lasting
peace. We have sustained that
commitment despite the abuse of the peace
process by those who persist with the aim of defeating the
IRA and Irish Republicans.
Republicans believe that the British government
claim to a part of Ireland, its denial of national self-determination
to the people of the island of Ireland, the partition
of our country and the maintenance of social and economic
inequality in the Six Counties are the root causes of conflict.
The
maintenance of our cessation is our contribution to the peace
process and to the creation
of a future in which the causes ofconflict are resolved by peaceful
means. For our part, the IRA leadership
is committed to resolving the issue of arms. The political
responsibility for advancing the current situation rests
with the two governments, especially the British government,
and the leadership of the political parties. The full implementation,
on a progressive and irreversible basis by the two
governments, especially the British government, of what they
have agreed will provide a
political context, in an enduring political
process, with the potential to remove the causes of conflict,
and in which Irish Republicans, and Unionists can, as equals
pursue our respective political objectives peacefully.
In
that context, the IRA leadership will initiate a process that
will completely and
verifiably put IRA arms beyond use. We will do
it in such a way as to avoid risk to the public and misappropriation
by others and ensure maximum public confidence. We
will resume contact with the Independent International Commission
on Decommissioning and enter into further discussions with
the Commission on the basis of the IRA leadership's commitment
to resolving the issue of arms. We look to the two governments
and especially the British government to fulfil their commitments
under the Good Friday Agreement and the Joint Statement.
To facilitate the speedy and full implementation of the
Good Friday Agreement and the government's measures, our arms
are silent and secure. There
is no threat to the peace process from
the IRA.
In
this context, the IRA leadership has agreed to put in place,
within weeks, a
confidence-building measure to confirm that our weapons
remain secure. The contents of a number of our arms dumps
will be inspected by agreed
third parties, who will report that they
have done so to the Independent International Commission on
Decommissioning. The dumps
will be re-inspected regularly to ensure
that the weapons have remained silent.
P.
O'Neill
c. RM Distribution and others.
Articles may be reprinted with credit.
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