This provision trades the aspirations of millions of Irish people in their quest for self-determination of their island for peace. Even though the leadership of the Sinn Fein, led by Gerry Adams, is trying to persuade people to vote to affirm the peace accords, ultimately, it will be up to the membership of the party to decide whether or not to support the peace process. Equally optimistic and realistic at the same time is the Irish Republican Army. We applaud, in particular, the efforts of the Sinn Fein leadership and others who have worked tirelessly toward this goal. We will carefully study the outcome of the talks process against its potential to move us toward our primary objective, a 32-county democratic, socialist republic.
Nobody doubts that the people of Ireland are tired of the violence and the killings.
Many issues are still pending. The IRA refuses, with good reason, to disarm until the other military factions, including the loyalist paramilitary groups Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Freedom Fighters, along with the British Army, disarm. The IRA also wants the hated Royal Ulster Constabulary disbanded. But many of the loyalists want the IRA to disarm now - a stance that Gerry Adams sees as detrimental to the entire peace process. We don't expect the loyalist to disarm.