Statement: Irish Republican Army Announcement

I welcome today’s announcement by the Irish Republican Army as a momentous development toward lasting peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland. Today, by virtue of their decision to formally lay down arms and engage exclusively in the political process in order to achieve their goals, the IRA has delivered a tremendous victory to all the people of Ireland.

Through their commitment to verifiable disarmament and the denunciation of violence and criminality, the IRA opens a path for the restoration of the devolved institutions of governance in Northern Ireland and, more broadly, for the full promise of the Good Friday Agreement to be realized. In crafting the Good Friday Agreement, we envisioned such a development as the one today, and I am very pleased that it has come to pass. It is now incumbent on all parties in Northern Ireland to renew their engagement in the political process and implement the Agreement.

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