Text of the IRA Cease-Fire Statement

19 July 1997

This second cease-fire statement by the IRA refers to "a permanent peace," a phrase that was missing from the first, although the British government had sought it. The second cease-fire opened the way for elections to the Northern Ireland forum on 30 May 1997 and the start of multi-party talks on 10 June 1997, which resulted in the 1998 Belfast Agreement.

SEE ALSO Irish Republican Army (IRA); Northern Ireland: Constitutional Settlement from Sunningdale to Good Friday; Northern Ireland: History since 1920; Politics: Nationalist Politics in Northern Ireland

On August 31, 1994 the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann (IRA) announced their complete cessation of military operations as our contribution to the search for lasting peace.

After 17 months of cessation in which the British government and the unionists blocked any possibility of real or inclusive negotiations, we reluctantly abandoned the cessation.

The IRA is committed to ending British rule in Ireland. It is the root cause of divisions and conflict in our country. We want a permanent peace and therefore we are prepared to enhance the search for a democratic peace settlement through real and inclusive negotiations.

So having assessed the current political situation, the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann are announcing a complete cessation of military operations from 12 midday on Sunday 20 July, 1997.

We have ordered the unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire of August 1994. All IRA units have been instructed accordingly.

Reprinted in A Farewell to Arms? From "Long War" to Long Peace in Northern Ireland, edited by Michael Cox, Adrian Guelke, and Fiona Stephens (2000), appendix 11, p. 343.