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1. The Taoiseach, Mr. Albert
Reynolds, TD, and the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. John
Major, MP, acknowledge that the most urgent and important
issue facing the people of Ireland, North and South,
and the British and Irish Governments together, is to
remove the causes of conflict, to overcome the legacy
of history and to heal the divisions which have resulted,
recognising that the absence of a lasting and satisfactory
settlement of relationships between the peoples of both
islands has contributed to continuing tragedy and suffering.
They believe that the development of an agreed framework
for peace, which has been discussed between them since
early last year, and which is based on a number of key
principles articulated by the two Governments over the
past 20 years, together with the adaptation of other
widely accepted principles, provides the starting point
of a peace process designed to culminate in a political
settlement.
2. The Taoiseach
and the Prime Minister are convinced of the inestimable
value to both their peoples, and particularly for the
next generation, of healing divisions in Ireland and
of ending a conflict which has been so manifestly to
the detriment of all. Both recognise that the
ending of divisions can come about only through the
agreement and co-operation of the people, North and
South, representing both traditions in Ireland. They
therefore make a solemn commitment to promote co-operation
at all levels on the basis of the fundamental principles,
undertakings, obligations under international agreements,
to which they have jointly committed themselves, and
the guarantees which each Government has given and now
reaffirms, including Northern Ireland's statutory constitutional
guarantee. It is their aim to foster agreement and reconciliation,
leading to a new political framework founded on consent
and encompassing arrangements within Northern Ireland,
for the whole island, and between these islands.
3. They also consider that the
development of Europe will, of itself, require new approaches
to serve interests common to both parts of the island
of Ireland, and to Ireland and the United Kingdom as
partners in the European Union.
4. The Prime Minister, on behalf
of the British Government, reaffirms that they will
uphold the democratic wish of a greater number of the
people of Northern Ireland on the issue of whether they
prefer to support the Union or a sovereign united Ireland.
On this basis, he reiterates, on behalf of the British
Government, that they have no selfish strategic or economic
interest in Northern Ireland. Their primary interest
is to see peace, stability and reconciliation established
by agreement among all the people who inhabit the island,
and they will work together with the Irish Government
to achieve such an agreement, which will embrace the
totality of relationships. The role of the British Government
will be to encourage, facilitate and enable the achievement
of such agreement over a period through a process of
dialogue and co-operation based on full respect for
the rights and identities of both traditions in Ireland.
They accept that such agreement may, as of right, take
the form of agreed structures for the island as a whole,
including a united Ireland achieved by peaceful means
on the following basis. The British Government agree
that it is for the people of the island of Ireland alone,
by agreement between the two parts respectively, to
exercise their right of self-determination on the basis
of consent, freely and concurrently given, North and
South, to bring about a united Ireland, if that is their
wish. They reaffirm as a binding obligation that they
will, for their part, introduce the necessary legislation
to give effect to this, or equally to any measure of
agreement on future relationships in Ireland which the
people living in Ireland may themselves freely so determine
without external impediment. They believe that the people
of Britain would wish, in friendship to all sides, to
enable the people of Ireland to reach agreement on how
they may live together in harmony and in partnership,
with respect for their diverse traditions, and with
full recognition of the special links and the unique
relationship which exist between the peoples of Britain
and Ireland.
5. The Taoiseach, on behalf of
the Irish Government, considers that the lessons of
Irish history, and especially of Northern Ireland, show
that stability and well-being will not be found under
any political system which is refused allegiance or
rejected on grounds of identity by a significant minority
of those governed by it. For this reason, it would be
wrong to attempt to impose a united Ireland, in the
absence of the freely given consent of a majority of
the people of Northern Ireland. He accepts, on behalf
of the Irish Government, that the democratic right of
self-determination by the people of Ireland as a whole
must be achieved and exercised with and subject to the
agreement and consent of a majority of the people of
Northern Ireland and must, consistent with justice and
equity, respect the democratic dignity and the civil
rights and religious liberties of both communities,
including:
- the right of free political thought;
- the right of freedom and expression
of religion;
- the right to pursue democratically
national and political aspirations;
- the right to seek constitutional
change by peaceful and legitimate means;
- the right to live wherever one chooses
without hindrance;
- the right to equal opportunity in
all social and economic activity, regardless of class,
creed, sex or colour.
These would be reflected in any future
political and constitutional arrangements emerging from
a new and more broadly based agreement.
6. The Taoiseach however recognises
the genuine difficulties and barriers to building relationships
of trust either within or beyond Northern Ireland, from
which both traditions suffer. He will work to create
a new era of trust, in which suspicion of the motives
or actions of others is removed on the part of either
community. He considers that the future of the island
depends on the nature of the relationship between the
two main traditions that inhabit it. Every effort must
be made to build a new sense of trust between those
communities. In recognition of the fears of the Unionist
community and as a token of his willingness to make
a personal contribution to the building up of that necessary
trust, the Taoiseach will examine with his colleagues
any elements in the democratic life and organisation
of the Irish State that can be represented to the Irish
Government in the course of political dialogue as a
real and substantial threat to their way of life and
ethos, or that can be represented as not being fully
consistent with a modern democratic and pluralist society,
and undertakes to examine any possible ways of removing
such obstacles. Such an examination would of course
have due regard to the desire to preserve those inherited
values that are largely shared throughout the island
or that belong to the cultural and historical roots
of the people of this island in all their diversity.
The Taoiseach hopes that over time a meeting of hearts
and minds will develop, which will bring all the people
of Ireland together, and will work towards that objective,
but he pledges in the meantime that as a result of the
efforts that will be made to build mutual confidence
no Northern Unionist should ever have to fear in future
that this ideal will be pursued either by threat or
coercion.
7. Both Governments accept that
Irish unity would he achieved only by those who favour
this outcome persuading those who do not, peacefully
and without coercion or violence, and that, if in the
future a majority of the people of Northern Ireland
are so persuaded, both Governments will support and
give legislative effect to their wish. But, notwithstanding
the solemn affirmation by both Governments in the Anglo-Irish
Agreement that any change in the status of Northern
Ireland would only come about with the consent of a
majority of the people of Northern Ireland, the Taoiseach
also recognises the continuing uncertainties and misgivings
which dominate so much of Northern Unionist attitudes
towards the rest of Ireland. He believes that we stand
at a stage of our history when the genuine feelings
of all traditions in the North must be recognised and
acknowledged. He appeals to both traditions at this
time to grasp the opportunity for a fresh start and
a new beginning, which could hold such promise for all
our lives and the generations to come. He asks the people
of Northern Ireland to look on the people of the Republic
as friends, who share their grief and shame over all
the suffering of the last quarter of a century, and
who want to develop the best possible relationship with
them, a relationship in which trust and new understanding
can flourish and grow. The Taoiseach also acknowledges
the presence in the Constitution of the Republic of
elements which are deeply resented by Northern Unionists,
but which at the same time reflect hopes and ideals
which lie deep in the hearts of many Irish men and women
North and South. But as we move towards a new era of
understanding in which new relationships of trust may
grow and bring peace to the island of Ireland, the Taoiseach
believes that the time has come to consider together
how best the hopes and identities of all can be expressed
in more balanced ways, which no longer engender division
and the lack of trust to which he has referred. He confirms
that, in the event of an overall settlement, the Irish
Government will, as part of a balanced constitutional
accommodation, put forward and support proposals for
change in the Irish Constitution which would fully reflect
the principle of consent in Northern Ireland.
8. The Taoiseach recognises the
need to engage in dialogue which would address with
honesty and integrity the fears of all traditions. But
that dialogue, both within the North and between the
people and their representatives of both parts of Ireland,
must be entered into with an acknowledgement that the
future security and welfare of the people of the island
will depend on an open, frank and balanced approach
to all the problems which for too long have caused division.
9. The British and Irish Governments
will seek, along with the Northern Ireland constitutional
parties through a process of political dialogue, to
create institutions and structures which, while respecting
the diversity of the people of Ireland, would enable
them to work together in all areas of common interest.
This will help over a period to build the trust necessary
to end past divisions, leading to an agreed and peaceful
future. Such structures would, of course, include institutional
recognition of the special links that exist between
the peoples of Britain and Ireland as part of the totality
of relationships, while taking account of newly forged
links with the rest of Europe.
10. The British and Irish Governments
reiterate that the achievement of peace must involve
a permanent end to the use of, or support for, paramilitary
violence. They confirm that, in these circumstances,
democratically mandated parties which establish a commitment
to exclusively peaceful methods and which have shown
that they abide by the democratic process, are free
to participate fully in democratic politics and to join
in dialogue in due course between the Governments and
the political parties on the way ahead.
11. The Irish Government would
make their own arrangements within their jurisdiction
to enable democratic parties to consult together and
share in dialogue about the political future. The Taoiseach's
intention is that these arrangements could include the
establishment, in consultation with other parties, of
a Forum for Peace and Reconciliation to make recommendations
on ways in which agreement and trust between both traditions
in Ireland can be promoted and established.
12. The Taoiseach and the Prime
Minister are determined to build on the fervent wish
of both their peoples to see old fears and animosities
replaced by a climate of peace. They believe the framework
they have set out offers the people of Ireland, North
and South, whatever their tradition, the basis to agree
that from now on their differences can be negotiated
and resolved exclusively by peaceful political means.
They appeal to all concerned to grasp the opportunity
for a new departure. That step would compromise no position
or principle, nor prejudice the future for either community.
On the contrary, it would be an incomparable gain for
all. It would break decisively the cycle of violence
and the intolerable suffering it entails for the people
of these islands, particularly for both communities
in Northern Ireland. It would allow the process of economic
and social co-operation on the island to realise its
full potential for prosperity and mutual understanding.
It would transform the prospects for building on the
progress already made in the Talks process, involving
the two Governments and the constitutional parties in
Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister
believe that these arrangements offer an opportunity
to lay the foundations for a more peaceful and harmonious
future, devoid of the violence and bitter divisions
which have scarred the past generation. They commit
themselves and their Governments to continue to work
together, unremittingly, towards that objective.
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