IRA promises to resume arms talks

A bomb blamed on the Real IRA damaged the BBC's London offices last week

LONDON, England -- The IRA is to renew discussions with an international arms decommissioning body, the republican organisation has said.

Thursday's announcement by the Irish Republican Army came as UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern prepared for new talks on the Northern Irish peace process in Belfast.

The last contacts between the IRA and the decommissioning body were in June 2000.

Blair is due to meet Ulster Unionist leader and Northern Ireland's First Minister David Trimble, Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams at Hillsborough Castle in an attempt to end the deadlock over decommissioning.

They will also discuss policing in Northern Ireland and demilitarisation, which is threatening the future of the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement.

In a statement on Thursday morning, the IRA said the British Government was not prepared to uphold commitments made over the last few years, which the republicans said was "totally unacceptable."

Despite this, the IRA leadership said it remained committed to the quest for a lasting peace, but added that it could only be achieved if everyone played their part.

The statement added: "The record shows that the IRA have honoured every commitment we have made including the opening of IRA arms dumps to inspection by the agreed international inspectors Cyril Ramaphosa and Maarti Ahtisaari.

AUDIO CNN's Walter Rodgers reports on the outstanding issues 529kb/49 .sec. AIFF or WAV sound

"We have done so despite the abuse of the peace process by those who persist with the aim of defeating the IRA and Irish republicanism and the obvious failure of the British Government to honour its obligations.

"The political responsibility for advancing the current situation rests with the two governments, especially the British Government, and the leadership of the political parties."

'Determination for progress'

Earlier, a spokesman for Blair said Thursday's talks would be held first on a bilateral basis leading, hopefully, to round-table meetings.

"There is a real determination to make progress on the outstanding issues but there is no guarantee of outcome," he said.

On Tuesday, Ahern said a stopgap formula was needed to keep the 1998 Good Friday agreement afloat over coming months.

"What I do think is possible if everyone puts in the required effort ... is that we could get a process that would allow us manage those issues over perhaps a difficult summer," he told parliament in Dublin.

In London security chiefs were braced for more bombings by dissidents hostile to the landmark accord after Sunday's car bomb outside the BBC's London offices.

Police suspect the Real IRA, a group opposed to the peace process, was behind the attack.

Blair's office said the fresh peace impetus was not a response to the BBC bomb attack.

Reuters contributed to this report.

UK: Bomb aimed at peace process
March 5, 2001
Real IRA blamed for BBC blast
March 4, 2001
One injured in UK explosion
February 21, 2001
N.Ireland talks continue despite bomb
January 23, 2001
Three arrested in Omagh bomb investigation
October 17, 2000

Northern Ireland Office
Metropolitan Police: Anti-Terrorist Branch

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