Adams: ‘IRA interested in peace’
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has welcomed the announcement that elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly will take place on November 26th.
Mr Adams delivered a speech at a hotel in Belfast on Tuesday morning, in which he stated that Sinn Fein is ‘totally committed’ to peace and ‘an entirely new democratic future’ for Northern Ireland.
He also revealed that the IRA is also ‘genuinely interested’ in building the peace process, but did not go so far as to declare that the war is over.
Mr Adams commented: “It is always easier to begin a journey, the hard thing is to finish it.”
He pledged to play a leadership role in bringing an end to violence and spoke of a desire to see “all guns taken out of Irish society”, appealing to all organisations that have yet to declare a ceasefire to do so.
In his address to Sinn Fein’s former Assembly members and candidates, Mr Adams called for a “future of equals” and spoke of a country that “empowers, enriches and cherishes’ its children”.
But, Mr Adams said: “It isn’t just down to Republicans – it never was.”
He said there was “justifiable anger” over the rejections of the Sinn Fein proposals put forward in April and May and praised the Sinn Fein negotiating team, led by Martin McGuinness, for reaching agreement on a raft of issues.
Rumours are currently circulating that the IRA has undertaken significant acts of decommissioning over the last 24 hours.
The paramilitary group is expected to make a statement later and it is believed the IRA is ready to commit to further significant disarmament.
The IRA statement will be preceded by a news conference from General John de Chastelain, head of the weapons decommissioning body.
Today’s activity follows weeks of talks between the British and Irish governments, Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionist Party.
