Moscow Welcomes Sinn Fein's Calls For Irish Republican Army To Disarm

Moscow calls the latest statements by the leadership of the Northern Irish party Sinn Fein and its calls on the Irish Republican Army to disarm "positive and hopeful", said Alexander Yakovenko, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, on Thursday. According to Mr. Yakovenko, "this step may become the start of the actual disarmament process and inspire a new impetus" in settling the Northern Irish problem. Mr. Yakovenko stressed that "the OSCE may play a positive role in this." The foreign ministry representative stressed that various efforts have been used to solve the issue of Northern Ireland. "Seemingly, the September 11 events and the reaction of the world community to them have made many people rethink and served as a catalyst in the settlement process," Mr. Yakovenko said.