[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
[August 31, 1994]
[Page 1514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the Northern Ireland Peace Process
August 31, 1994

    I welcome today's watershed announcement by the IRA that it has 
decided to end the 25-year campaign of violence and pursue the path of 
peace. While much work remains to be done, the IRA's decision to join 
the political process can mark the beginning of a new era that holds the 
promise of peace for all the people of Northern Ireland.
    I have just spoken with Prime Minister Albert Reynolds of Ireland 
and Prime Minister John Major of the United Kingdom to congratulate them 
for their persistent efforts to bring this day about. Their joint 
resolve to end the violence and pursue a negotiated settlement has been 
crucial to the progress made to date. Their historic joint declaration 
last December, together with the Anglo-Irish agreement of 1985, have 
built the foundation for the new hope we have today. I am pleased that 
the United States has been able to contribute to this process of 
reconciliation.
    We join with the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom in 
the hope and expectation that today's step will help bring a lasting and 
just peace to Northern Ireland. I urge the IRA and all who have 
supported it to fulfill the promise of today's announcement to end the 
use and support of violence, just as we continue to call on all parties 
who have sought to achieve political goals through violence to cease to 
do so. There must be a permanent end to the violence.
    The United States continues to stand ready to assist in advancing 
the process of peace in Northern Ireland. We hope that both traditions, 
unionist and nationalist, will support the only real avenue to peace, 
that of a negotiated settlement to the conflict.