DOCUMENT FOR INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION ONLY:
PS/ Secretary of State
PS/Lord Belstead
PS/Dr Mawhinney
PS/Mr Needham
PS/Mr Hanley
PS/PUS
PS/Mr Fell
PS/Mr Ledlie
PS/Mr Thomas
Mr Alston
Mr A Wilson
Mr Wood
Mr Bell
Mr McNeill
Mr Templeton
Mr Percival (L) - please distribute to London colleagues
M Dodds (FAX: 02317 7604)
ISSUED BY SINN FEIN
The following is the text of a statement issued to our office. 21/8/91
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP has revealed today that he has written to the British and Irish governments; Party Political leaders in Ireland and Britain; Church leaders and others with a view to seeking open ended discussions on the conflict in the North and the development of a peace process capable of achieving the political conditions necessary for an end to violence.
Mr Adams said:
"The only real and permanent answer to the issue of political violence in Ireland is to be found in the resolution of the injustices which create and sustain it.
At the beginning of July the Brooke Talks process ended. Despite media hype and unsubstantiated claims of passive achievements it has been widely viewed as a failure.
Those who participated knew from the outset that the process was never going to form the basis for a permanent solution to the conflict. Despite their subsequent public positions they also know how little real progress they made in the inter-party sessions. People deserve better than that.
They are looking to their political leaders to grasp the political nettle and make real efforts to accommodate the differing political positions which exist in order to secure peace.
The central and most urgent issue facing us all must be how to resolve this crisis and bring the conflict to an end. This means creating the conditions of justice, equality and democracy through which a real and lasting peace in Ireland can be achieved.
Sinn Féin is convinced that partition and Britain's continued presence are the core issues creating conflict and division. They are the political barriers to peace and political progress. It is impossible to successfully tackle the question of relationships between the people of these islands without tackling these issues also. This requires dialogue.
Sinn Féin is prepared to face up to that task and to discharge our responsibilities in a positive and honourable way. We believe that peace can be achieved. We are prepared to take political risks. We are prepared to give and take. We are committed to establishing a peace process.
To that end I have written this week to the two governments, political leaders in Ireland and Britain, Church leaders and leaders of the Irish and British Trade Union Movement. I will be assuring them of Sinn Féin's desire for peace and will e inviting them to engage in dialogue, to discuss all of the issues which create violence and the steps necessary to bring it to an end.
My invitation is made in the spirit of openness and a desire to see this tragedy brought to an end. Dialogue and a frank and full exchange of views is essential if there is to be any hope of constructive progress.
A real opportunity does exist to build a new future for the people of this island but it requires political courage, open mindedness and flexibility on all sides.
This is the challenge facing us all ".
