IRA commits to extensive decommissioning
The IRA has announced that it has sanctioned its third act of weapons decommissioning.
The refusal by the IRA to commit to disarmament has proved a major stumbling block in recent efforts to rebuild the shaken Good Friday Agreement.
The IRA statement, released on Tuesday, read: “The leadership of the IRA welcomes today’s speech by Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, in which he accurately reflects our position.
“He also referred to the issue of weapons.
“The IRA leadership is committed to resolving this issue.
“In line with our stated position, we have authorised our representative to meet with the IICD (the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning) with a view to proceeding with the implementation of a process to put arms beyond use at the earliest opportunity.
“We have also authorised a further act of putting arms beyond use.
“This will be verified under the agreed scheme.
“Signed P O’Neill.”
All IRA statements are signed P O’Neill to protect the anonymity of the paramilitary organisation’s members.
The IRA’s announcement comes hours after Downing Street confirmed that elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly would take place on November 26th.
The devolved administration was suspended a year ago amid allegations of IRA intelligence-gathering at Stormont.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams earlier called for peace in Northern Ireland and declared that, “Sinn Fein wants to see the guns taken out of Irish society”.
Tony Blair’s official spokesman said on Tuesday that it could be “the most significant day since the Good Friday Agreement”.
