Following a year of continued violence, the prime ministers of Ireland and Great Britain announced Dec. 15 a statement both hope will be a "framework for peace" in Northern Ireland.
In it, Britain says it will honor the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland, including allowing them to unite with Ireland, if a majority vote that way. The British also agree to negotiate with the political wing of the Irish Republican Army if the group renounces violence.
Northern Ireland is in Year 23 of what is known as "the troubles." The fighting and bombing have claimed more than 3,000 lives.
At the end of the year, the Irish Republic Army issued a statement. "The British Government holds the key to peace," it said. "The IRA wants peace. If the political will exists or can be created, then there is a real hope that a basis for peace can be established. It is our desire that it should be."
The message did not appear to accept or reject a call from the two prime ministers that the IRA end its campaign of violence.
Observers said it appeared the IRA wanted the British government to do more to convince Protestants in Northern Ireland to go along with unification.
The IRA observed a three-day cease-fire over Christmas, but that ended Dec. 27 with a bomb attack on a rural police station just 16 minutes after the cease-fire expired.
