"Let me get one thing straight from the start, it is not because of our opposition to the Good Friday Agreement, but rather despite it, that we make this call. We, as a party and as individuals, are well aware that these are critical days for the pro-Agreement parties, but the issue of this war and Ireland's involvement in it supersedes that," Terry Harkin, Co-Secretary of the party's International Department, said today in London.

"No matter what we as a political party feel about the GFA, it has brought the leadership of the pro-Agreement nationalists and republicans to the very centre of the world stage. Indeed they see themselves, with justification in some eyes, as statesmen on that world stage. The IRSP believe that this status comes with a price."

"In minutes, certainly within hours, the combined might of England (some of the Empire) and America will descend on the people of Iraq, in what can only be described as an unashamed land and oil grab. Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands will die in the first hours and days, and for what?

"The UN, and most of the world, has refused to endorse this war and the people of the world have cried 'NO' from the pavements of almost every city, of every nation.

"It has always been the policy of every segment of the republican community in Ireland, and almost all of the nationalist parties, that Ireland's neutrality is sacrosanct. Fianna Fail, the party in power in the Free State, styles itself 'The Republican Party', yet we see the boots of hired US mercenaries on Irish soil as they stopped here, before going on to attack Iraq."

"No matter who or what Saddam is, no matter what he has done in the past, there is no justification, legal or moral, for the English and America to commit this wanton act of genocide on the Iraqi people. It is they who will die, as generations of the indigenous population of our island have died at the hands of England and her allies.

"It is therefore inconceivable that the leadership, of what they themselves describe as an oppressed people, should sit down with the perpetrators of this act of nouveau imperialism.

"Rightly or wrongly, the GFA has brought our nation and the pro- Agreement parties to the centre of the world stage. The IRSP believe that this places them in a unique position to apply pressure on the governments of Britain and America. By refusing to meet with these governments, they could effectively add the voice of the Irish nation to the voices of France, Russia and Germany in saying 'no' to this aggression against the Iraqi people."

Mr Harkin concluded by saying, "This is not about what the IRSP thinks about the GFA. This isn't even about what the pro-Agreement parties think about the GFA. It's about power, and right now they have the power to put pressure on Tony Blair and George W. Bush; the power to deny them credibility; the power to make a statement that Ireland says 'No' to war.

"It is not a time for party politics, it is a time for action, and they can act.

"The IRSP is asking them to pay the price for their statesmen status. We are asking them not to sit down with these people, while they murder for oil. It's all fine and well participating in the marches and issuing press statements, and we encourage them to continue to do so, but the SDLP, Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail have an opportunity to make a statement on the world stage right now; a statement on behalf of the nationalist and republican people of Ireland. The IRSP is asking them to make that statement."

STATEMENTS ENDS