14th April 2003

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Adams responds to request for clarification

Commenting on the request by the two governments for clarification, the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, said,

"On Sunday, 13th April, the leadership of the IRA forwarded a detailed statement setting out its view of the current phase of the peace process. This was accomplished in the most difficult circumstances, compounded by the leaking and misleading briefing to the media on earlier drafts and concepts which had been shared with the two governments.

"I have seen and read closely the IRA statement. It is clear and unambiguous. The two governments have acknowledged that the IRA statement is positive. I therefore find it incredible that they have not acted on the basis of this unprecedented intervention. They persist in their refusal to publish their Joint Declaration.

"However, if, their request for clarification is, as they claim, a genuine attempt to advance matters at this point then all obstacles to progress should be removed."

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