Momentous day
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The Irish government also have a direct responsibility to advance the
situation and to effectively promote Irish national interests.
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Sinn Féin President and MP for West Belfast, Gerry Adams,
welcomed the commencement of the IRA's cessation on Sunday 20 July.
Today is the start of a new and challenging era. I want to commend the
IRA leadership for the momentous and brave decision. I appreciate it
wasn't an easy decision to take. It is imperative that all political
leaders embrace this new opportunity for peace.
It is a challenging time. I urge people particularly the unionists to
declare a cessation in their heads, search for new and generous language to
address their political opponents. We all have reasons to be suspicious of
each other but we have to rise to the occasion that is before us and lead
the people of this island into a new and peaceful future.
The British government now must address the whole issue of confidence
building measures. There is a wide expectation that there will be movement
on prisoners. There is also a need for urgent movement by the British
government on the equality agenda which brings change to people's lives
now.
The Irish government also have a direct responsibility to advance the
situation and to effectively promote Irish national interests.
I look forward to the future with optimism and expectation that if there
is a political will we can put behind us the long and difficult conflict.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)