Statement issued by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), 15 February 2000

Statement issued by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), 15 February 2000

On November 17th the leadership of the IRA agreed to appoint a representative to enter into discussions with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning).

This was on the basis that it would be part of a series of events, including, and in particular, the establishment of the political institutions set out in the Good Friday agreement. This was designed to move the situation out of an 18-month impasse. This impasse was created and maintained by unionist intransigence and a failure by the British government to advance the implementation of the Good Friday agreement.

The British Secretary of State has reintroduced the unionist veto by suspending the political institutions. This has changed the context in which we appointed a representative to meet with the IICD and has created a deeper crisis.

Both the British government and the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party have rejected the propositions put to the IICD by our representative. They obviously have no desire to deal with the issue of arms except on their own terms.

Those who seek a military victory in this way need to understand that this cannot and will not happen.

Those who have made the political process conditional on the decommissioning of silenced IRA guns are responsible for the current crisis in the peace process.

In the light of these changed circumstances the leadership of the IRA have decided to end our engagement with the IICD. We are also withdrawing all propositions put to the IICD by our representative since November."