Issued by Office of the President
26 October 2001
I would like to extend our congratulations to Sinn Fein and its leader Gerry Adams, as well as the IRA for the bold courageous and eminently correct steps that they have taken to speed up the process of the decommissioning of weapons, and thus open the way for the full and immediate implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I would also like to express our appreciation for the positive response to these important developments on the part of the British and Irish governments, and the Ulster Unionists, and encourage them also to show the same boldness and courage demonstrated by Sinn Fein and the IRA. We will maintain our contact with all concerned in this matter in the interest of a just and permanent peace for the people of Ireland.
We also remain deeply concerned about the worsening situation in the Middle East, we hope that both the Israelis and the Palestinians can take example from Sinn Fein and the IRA, themselves to take the bold courageous and eminently urgent steps that are needed to deal with this particular challenge.
I would like to mention that . . . Gerry Adams came, and saw us and consulted us about the matter, and we did indeed advise that though this was not necessarily a requirement of the Good Friday agreement, that it would be important that such an initiative was taken. I am glad the initiative was taken, and I would hope that South Africa is united behind that offensive to assist in finding peace for the people of Ireland, to find proper co-existence among the Irish people.
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