- Event type: CREATE
Northern Ireland Brooke/Mayhew Talks 1991-1992
WORK IN PROGRESS - IN THE FINAL STAGES OF EDITING A series of talks launched by Peter Brooke, Secretary of State for Northern in Ireland, which began in April 1991, and were carried on intermittently by Brooke and his successor, Patrick Mayhew, until November 1992.
Drafting Committee
Committee set up with representatives of the different delegations to work on a joint statement regarding the end of the Talks process.
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
Session 13154: 1992-11-10 10:00:00
The Committee produces a draft statement which is reviewed later in the day, and a revised version is prepared for presentation to the plenary.
Document View:
Joint Statement Draft 10 November 1992 AM
Shown with amendment 'Joint Statement Draft 10 November 1992 AM' (e846904)
DRAFT STATEMENT - 10 NOVEMBER
[ ] November 1992
The Talks Delegparticipants have agreed the following statement.
These Talks were built ons todayhose which were held a plenary session atlast year. Like them, they took as ground rules the Statemendt of a process that26 March 1991. The first strand of these new Talks began in Stron 9 March and Iresumed on 29 MarchApril, after the British General Election, to consider politinued in Strand 2 sincecal arrangements within Northern Ireland. On 6 July, the second strand was launched, in Strvolving both the Irish and 3UK Governments and concerning relationships withich opened on the island of Ireland. On 28 July. The last four weeks of the two Governments held the process were spent in informal bilateral consultations amopening meeting of the third strand, concerning drelegations and between individualthem.
The Talks participants wish to record their delep gratitude tons Sir Niniand Stephe Chairman. Tn for his dedicated role in chairing Strand II of the Talks covered fundamental aspects offrom 6 July onwards and, in the later stages, presiding over the internal, north/soudiscussion of issues ranging across all three strands of the Talks. They also th and east/wesk the Australian Government for agreeing to make Sir Ninian available for this task and providing a senior official to support hipsm in his role.
The Talks were based on the stathave seen substantive and detailed engagement on issues of the then Secretary of State, Pfirst importance.
In Strand I the Northern Ireland parties, together with the Brooke, of 26 March 1991. This statitish Government, had reached provisional agreement recorded that allon common themes and on partinciples accepted that nothing would be finally agwhich should underlie any new political institutions in Northern Ireland, and have examined possible structures which might reflect them.
In Strand in anyII, delegations have discussed fundamental aspects of therelationships within three strandsisland of Ireland and of the Talkrealities until evderlying them, including was agreed in the Talks as a wholconstitutional issues and questions of identity and allegiance. The Talksy have not as yet resulted in a comprehensive accommodexamined the scope for enhanced co-operation win relathion to the deep seated island long stof Ireland ing problems they have been addressing.
The Talks social, economic, security and other fields. They have been held, asconsidered the nature of the statement of 26 March 1991 envisaged, during a ructures which might best serve as a vehicle for such co-operation and the conditions necessary for their successful operation.
In Strand between meetings ofIII the two Governments, in liaison with the Anglo-Irish Conference arranged for that purother participants, have addressed possible principles for a new and more broadly based agreement and possible. Since the next tergovernmental arrangements. The politing of the Confercal dialogue which has taken place in this framework so far has been unprecedented and very valuable. It has been set byaddressed both the issues which unite the two Governments for 16 Novembertraditions in the island of Ireland and those which divide the present Talks nowm. It has established come to an end.mon ground in many areas.
The Chairman exIt is a fundamental principle for all Talks participantsed the view at, in accordance with democrat this should not mean that discussions wic principles, constitutional and political differences should be brought permresolved exclusively by political means. The Talks participants collectively reaffirm their total an end. All concerned had bhorrence of and opposition to all forms of terrorism, from whatever source they may come or whatever causet they may purport to selrve. They agree that all such activity must be dealt with in accordance with the rule of law and through its objimpartial and effectives on enteringforcement by the 3-Strelevand procest authorities. Those objectiey believes thad not yet been achieved, despite the good willt any new arrangements should be conducive to ending terrorism, maintaining and advancing effective security co-operation, promoting justice and achieving lasting peace and stability.
They accept and affort all parties had put into irm that there are at least two distinct communal identities within Northern Ireland reflecting the two major tradiations. However in those objectisland of Ireland. Each must be given respect and recognitinued ton by the other so that they can be valiappropriately accommodated in andy new political structures, taking account of the viwider framework of the Chairman, achievable.
The Talks participantrelationships within these islands. Each individual and community has nothe right to define that, while at this timeir own identity; and that right and identity should be respected. They reaffirm that any new arrangements noshould be such asis to agree a settlement,give expression to they had identifiedty and discussed most, if notvalidity of each main tradition. They are all, of the elements committed to encouraging a healing process in which would comprise an eventual settldifferences will be respected and divisions healed by agreement; they had .
The participants consider that any comprehensiveloped a cle agreement resulting from the Talks process should reflect a shared understanding of the constitutional issues which achieves a balanced accommodation of ther's
differing positions and established constructive dialogue on ways in wof the two main traditions in relation to them. It is accepted that in any renewed talks it will be open to all delegations to raise, and to seek to achieve ch an accommodaange, in regard to all constitution might be reached on somal issues of concern to them. They acknowledge the importance of the keyse issues whicfor both tradividetions and them.
All parties need for further work to recognisncile the value of the dialogue, but unsurprisingly, point to diffsincere and deeply held views of both sides. The Irish Government declareas othat if furthe process asr discussions achieve the basis of "a new beginning" in the most beneficialrelationship between the two traditions in Ireland, and identify difff agreement on a fair and honourable accommodation between them were to ent issues as being key obstacles. Participantail any constitutional consequences, then it could approach the Irish Electorate to endorse proposed constitutional changes with the hope and prospect of a positive response.
The discussions have been acutely aware of the unprecedeconfirmed the analysis underlying the 26 March Statement that for Northern Ireland the internal and - some might say historic - natuexternal relationships are interlinked and that, in order to be stable and acceptable, a political accommodation is required which gives adequate expression tof the processtotality of relationships described in which theythat Statement.
These Talks have beengaged. All regret of historic importance. The Statement of 26 March recorded that their efforts haveall parties accepted that nothing would been bless finally agreed win any of th ge three strands of the Talks until everything was agreement.d in the Talks as a whole, and two Governments are ofhat confidentiality would be maintained to that end. The view that further dialogue is both necessaryTalks have not as yet resulted in a comprehensive accommodation in relation to this deep seated and desiralong standing problem. The four NorBut they have brought thern Ireland parties agree and, accordingly, will enter into informal constogether in discussion of fundamental issues, and have given to each a clearer and fuller understations with a view to seeknding of the requirements which must be accommodated ing a way forward.
ny political settlement. The Strand 2participants remain convinced that the Talks participants wishhave the potential to record their deep gratitude to Sir Ninilead to such a comprehensive settlement. They are convinced that the process must be kept in being, and Stephen effort to achis dedicated role in chairingeve a settlement pursued, for the sake of the people of Northern Ireland, of the whole is Strland of Ireland, and of the processe islands.
They Talkso thankve been held, as the Australian Governatement for agreeing to make Sir Ninian available forof 26 March 1991 envisaged, during an interval between meetings of the Anglo-Iris task h Conference arranged providing a senior official, George Thompson,for the purpose. Since the next meeting of the Conference is to support him in this role. The Strand 1 Talksbe held on 16 November the present Talks now come to an end. However all the participants also wish to extend thegree that further talks are both needed and desirable. They appgree accordingly to enter consultations, and thanksfter the Irish General Election, to Sir Patrick Mayhew MP for his chairmanship ofestablish the basis on which further talks should be held.
(Suggested insertion - after third sentence Strand 1 plenary of third paragraph on page 3)
In particular no agreement has yetings and to Jeremy Hanley MP for his commitment been reached on the constitutional issues referred to above, on the outline of new political institutions in Northern Ireland, on structures which might facilitate chairing extensive Strontact and co-operation within the island of Ireland 1 commor on future intergovernmental relations; and it has therefore sessions.
Participnot proved possible in present circumstances to devise also wish to put on recor set of arrangements which could - taken together - command their gratitude to the administrativ support and allegiance of a broad majority of both main traditions in Ireland and contribute to lastaffing peace and all others who provided suppostability. But the Talks have brought the part services throughoutogether in discussion of the Talks processe fundamental issues.
Decisions yet to be taken
- Joint Statement Draft 10 November 1992 AM (introduced on 1992-11-10 10:00:00 - CREATE - e844252) [This document]
Document Timeline
- Joint Statement Draft 10 November 1992 AM (introduced on 1992-11-10 10:00:00 - CREATE - e844252) [This document]
[view current proposal at this moment]
- Joint Statement Draft 10 November 1992 AM (introduced on 1992-11-10 10:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e846904) [This amendment shown]
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- None (introduced on 1992-11-10 10:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e846905) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Joint Statement Draft 10 November 1992 AM (introduced on 1992-11-10 10:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e846904) [This amendment shown]
[view current proposal at this moment]