FURTHER IRA STATEMENT WARNS GOV.T'S OF SITUATION

[mrgorth]

FURTHER IRA STATEMENT WARNS GOV.T'S OF SITUATION
02/03/05 14:06 EST

The IRA has issued a new statement this evening warning the
Irish and British governments not to "underestimate" the
seriousness of the crisis in the peace process.


In a short statement, the group said the two governments
were "trying to play down our statement because
they are making a mess of the peace process. Do not
underestimate the seriousness of the situation."


The statement was issued to RTÉ, Ireland's national
broadcaster, by telephone shortly before 6 p.m., local time.


The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, played down the IRA's 800-word
statement issued last night and called for talks to continue
between all sides in the peace process.


Last night's statement accused the two governments of
withdrawing their commitments and trying the group's
patience to the limit. It confirmed that it was withdrawing
its proposals to get rid of its weapons, which were on the
table before Christmas as part of a "comprehensive agreement".


"The IRA has demonstrated our commitment to the peace
process again and again," it stated last night. "We wanted
to succeed. We have played a key role in achieving the
progress achieved so far."


Speaking in Dundalk today, Mr Ahern called for a period of
reflection and urged all parties involved to continue in
their efforts to resolve the outstanding issues of the
Belfast Agreement.


"I don't read the IRA statement in a negative fashion," he said.


"They are saying what is a fact, that negotiations have
broken down. . . . Everything is off the table and that's
the normal course of negotiation."


He insisted the Irish Government were "not into excluding or
blaming anyone" and said it would continue in its stated
objective, which was "the end of criminality and associated
issues of paramilitarism".


The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) today sent a
report on the Belfast bank heist to the two governments. It
will be considered by the Irish Cabinet and published next week.
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