North reaction: Former SDLP leader and Belfast Agreement architect John Hume welcomed the IRA statement, and called on loyalists and others to recognise the democratic will of the people.
"I hope that they now honour their commitment to end all their activity as the Good Friday agreement requires."
He said of the UVF, LVF and UDA: "Loyalists too must end their activity. The two governments and the unionist parties in particular must work to ensure this. Violence is futile. It achieves nothing. It only deepens the divisions of our people and makes it harder to resolve our problems."
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "We have stressed that the IRA's break with its past has to be clear, clean and complete. This statement appears to be that.
"The SDLP hopes that, as promised, all IRA paramilitary activity and all IRA involvement in organised crime will end now and for good - as well as the culture of cover-up and community control.
"It has to be noted that the statement does not commit the Provisional movement to policing.
"Yet policing is fundamental to accepting the rule of law and vital to tackle organised crime. The SDLP calls on Sinn Féin to join with us in upholding the new beginning to policing."
David Ford, the Alliance leader, saw shortcomings in the IRA declaration.
"While this statement is clearly a significant move in the right direction, it is important to look behind the hype and analyse its true meaning.
"A statement in which the IRA declares an end to its 'armed campaign' does not address a number of issues.
"There is still no clear acceptance of the legitimacy of both the northern and southern states with respect to policing and criminal justice matters.
"There is no renunciation of their self-proclaimed right to indulge in 'community policing' and dispensing paramilitary beatings."
The Green Party said: "As we stated earlier in our call on republicans to reconsider their strategy, the Green Party has been convinced for some time that armed struggle and the maintenance of a military capacity serves only those who remain opposed to the principles and terms of the Good Friday agreement."
The party's co-leaders in Northern Ireland, Dr John Barry and Kelly Andrews, said: "The Green Party shares the view that there is now an unprecedented opportunity to utilise the considerable energy and goodwill which there is for the peace process.
"However, we are under no illusion that certain party leaders on the unionist side will be found wanting in the months and years ahead.
"This is particularly true of elements within the DUP."
They said: "The Green Party is today calling on those who exercise positions of influence within the ranks of the DUP to respond to the compelling political and moral case for the removal of any figure within that party who is incapable of seizing this moment and leading this community into a peaceful and just future."