IRA to disarm

White House Praises IRA Disarmament Pledge
copyright Guardian Unlimited

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House on Thursday called the Irish Republican Army's pledge to end its armed campaign and resume disarmament an ``important and potentially historic'' move toward peace in the historically troubled region.
The IRA's move is aimed at reviving Northern Ireland's peace process. The IRA said all of its clandestine units had been ordered to place their weapons in arms dumps and cease all activities, although it would not formally disband.

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SINN FEIN website.



michael mccafferty comments:

Pope Benedict XVI welcomed the disarmament promise of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during his Angelus audience on Sunday, July 31.

"This is beautiful news," the Holy Father said, adding that the IRA's announcement "has rightly led to satisfaction and hope" in Ireland and elsewhere. He offered his enthusiastic and prayerful support for all those involved in the effort to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

Former US President Bill Clinton, who was instrumental in negotiating the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998 has welcomed the IRA's decision to disarm. He says he's looking forward to the implementation of this decision. "The announcement that the IRA made today is potentially the biggest thing to happen in this peace process since the Good Friday agreement, and if it is done and verified, it represents the fulfilment of something I have worked for since 1994, both as President and later as a private citizen."

Clinton was the first US President to visit Northern Ireland and to actively engage unionists and separatists towards a ceasefire.

Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein Leader: "Today's decision by the IRA to move into a new peaceful mode is historic and represents a courageous and confident initiative. It is truly momentous and is a defining point in the search for a lasting peace with justice."

As an Irish-Canadian - a direct descendent of Henry and Elizabeth McCafferty who came to Canada in 1824 from Ireland - I am delighted by the historic decision by the IRA to disarm.