The Sinn Fein spokesman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, was interviewed by Sean O'Rourke on E Radio News at One on RTE radio yesterday about the IRA statement on the Belfast Agreement.
Will republicans accept the decision of the [Belfast Agreement] referendums [North and South]?
I think the real question . . . a fundamental principle for republicans is whether we would regard a referendum organised in the South by the Irish Government and one organised in the North by the British government as being a valid expression of national self-determination, the answer is very clear, no.
We can all do the sums in the aftermath and say it amounts to the same thing?
Well if they had done the sums in the first place we would not be in this situation and we wouldn't have had partition, and people are taking a very selective approach again.
But you're saying it won't amount to an expression of self-determination?
I answered a very specific question. I'm not saying and I'm not predicting what would be the response in circumstances where there was support. No, I gave you a definition of national self-determination and I'm saying that this exercise of two separate referendums, and one of them organised by the British government, does not constitute national self-determination.
But does it constitute a valid democratic decision of the Irish people?
Well, what it certainly will indicate is people's view of the peace process. I don't think it will be a definitive judgment as to whether or not this document has the means of giving us a settlement. I think it won't, but I think we can do a lot of work on what is within it and I think there certainly is potential, and I also think that so far we have achieved some very significant political gains.