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14/08/2001
IRA statement met with widespread dismay
News that the IRA have withdrawn their commitment to disarm has been met with grim resignation by political figures and establishments in the north.
Speaking at Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday afternoon, Secretary of State Dr John Reid said he was disappointed by the IRA announcement to withdraw their agreed proposal made to the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning.
He said: “I'm afraid that withdrawing from an agreement which took two years to arrive at, only five days after the republicans declared it as historic, can only play into the hands of those sceptics who have always doubted their intentions.
“It will, I believe, together with today's news reports from Colombia, disappoint many people, not only here at home, but in the international community.”
Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that while he was “disappointed” by the IRA statement the two governments would continue with efforts to secure full implementation of the Agreement.
The Ulster Unionist party branded the IRA statement as a short-term manoeuvring step by republicans. Michael McGimpsey said the move sought to “unnerve” the British Government and force an Assembly election. He said that the Secretary of State must respond in a very clear and principled manner and must not allow himself to be knocked off balance.
Meanwhile Sinn Féin, who expressed outrage at the option to suspend the assembly for the weekend, claimed republicans had not disengaged from the peace process.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mitchell McLoughlin called on the government to give republicans some positive political developments to respond to, rather than the negative signal sent by the one-day suspension. He said: “It is logical that the IRA will respond to political failure.”
Peter Robinson, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, said: "The IRA have no intention of completing verifiable decommissioning. It is simply a case of using words to gain more from the government. Tony Blair must now take everything off the table that has been offered to the IRA.”
Meanwhile the SDLP said they found the IRA statement “very strange” as it played “straight into the hands of the anti-Agreement parties” and called on the IRA to “immediately withdraw it”. (AMcE)
Speaking at Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday afternoon, Secretary of State Dr John Reid said he was disappointed by the IRA announcement to withdraw their agreed proposal made to the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning.
He said: “I'm afraid that withdrawing from an agreement which took two years to arrive at, only five days after the republicans declared it as historic, can only play into the hands of those sceptics who have always doubted their intentions.
“It will, I believe, together with today's news reports from Colombia, disappoint many people, not only here at home, but in the international community.”
Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that while he was “disappointed” by the IRA statement the two governments would continue with efforts to secure full implementation of the Agreement.
The Ulster Unionist party branded the IRA statement as a short-term manoeuvring step by republicans. Michael McGimpsey said the move sought to “unnerve” the British Government and force an Assembly election. He said that the Secretary of State must respond in a very clear and principled manner and must not allow himself to be knocked off balance.
Meanwhile Sinn Féin, who expressed outrage at the option to suspend the assembly for the weekend, claimed republicans had not disengaged from the peace process.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mitchell McLoughlin called on the government to give republicans some positive political developments to respond to, rather than the negative signal sent by the one-day suspension. He said: “It is logical that the IRA will respond to political failure.”
Peter Robinson, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, said: "The IRA have no intention of completing verifiable decommissioning. It is simply a case of using words to gain more from the government. Tony Blair must now take everything off the table that has been offered to the IRA.”
Meanwhile the SDLP said they found the IRA statement “very strange” as it played “straight into the hands of the anti-Agreement parties” and called on the IRA to “immediately withdraw it”. (AMcE)
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04 February 2005
IRA statement condemns government attitudes
The IRA has issued a second statement following what it describes as a “playing down” of the importance the two governments placed on an announcement by the paramilitary group to withdraw an offer to decommission all weapons.
IRA statement condemns government attitudes
The IRA has issued a second statement following what it describes as a “playing down” of the importance the two governments placed on an announcement by the paramilitary group to withdraw an offer to decommission all weapons.
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