Unionist reaction: The leaders of the largest unionist parties both issued cool and cautious responses to the IRA statement.
Both the Rev Ian Paisley and Sir Reg Empey criticised the statement for its justification of the IRA campaign, its lack of remorse and insisted that only the IRA's actions would count for anything in the months ahead.
Dr Paisley said: "We will judge the IRA's bona fides over the next months and years based on its behaviour and activity."
Pointing to what he saw as deficiencies in the statement, he added: "Even on the face of the statement they have failed to explicitly declare an end to their multi-million pound criminal activity, and have failed to provide the level of transparency that would be necessary to truly build confidence that the guns have gone in their entirety.
"This lack of transparency will prolong the period the community will need to make its assessment."
He warned: "We treat with contempt their attempt to glorify and justify their murder campaign, and we will be evaluating the extent of the price paid by the government and the consequences that will have for the political process."
Dr Paisley also condemned the Northern Secretary for releasing Shankill bomber Seán Kelly. "The decision by the Secretary of State to release Sean Kelly from Maghaberry prison is a downright disgrace and shows that he has no self-respect for himself or the people of Northern Ireland.
"On the 18th June, the Secretary of State locked up a known terrorist because he had 'become reinvolved in terrorism and is a danger to others'. What has changed in a month? Sean Kelly has been released as a sop for an IRA statement, pure and simple."
Sir Reg Empey said unionists would be cautious about any IRA statement having been let down by the IRA many times before.
"This is not simply whingeing or being difficult about it, it's being simply factual that we've had so many statements before that haven't been kept.
"And as far as the whole criminality is concerned, I mean, there are huge multi-million pound smuggling rackets that have been run by the IRA, the bank robbery that was only recently held at the Northern Bank, which was the largest in British history, so, you know, people are going to take some time to see.
"As far as the UUP is concerned, actions speak louder than words. We have seen only their words today."
Progressive Unionist leader David Ervine greeted the statement positively.
"First of all, it's unambiguous and that's a first. The second thing that's a first is that it's front-loading. Normally, the IRA demand that others move and then the IRA will follow.
"This time the IRA has gone first and that is significant. What they are saying, and the third item, is the war is over." That, he said, had to be welcomed.