FROM: D J R HILL
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM
9 JUNE 1996
PS/Sir John Wheeler (L,B+DFP) – B
PS/Baroness Denton (L,DED_DANI) – B
PS/Mr Moss (L,DOE_DHSS) – B
PS/PUS (L+B) – B
PS/Sir David Fell – B
Mr Thomas – B
Mr Legge – B
Mr Leach – B
Mr Bell – B
Mr Watkins – B
Mr Steele – B
Mr Wood (L+B) – B
Mr Stephens – B
Mr Maccabe – B
Mr Beeton – B
Mr Lavery – B
Mr Perry – B
Mr Currie – B
Mr Dickinson – B
Miss Harrison
Mr Whysall
Ms Checksfield – B
Ms Mapstone – B
Mr Cran MP – B
Lady Olga Maitland – B
Mr Elletson MP – B
Mr Campbell-Bannerman – B
Mr Budd, via IPL – B
Mr Lamont – B
HMA Dublin – B
Ms K Collins, via IPL – B
PS/Michael Ancram (L+B) – B
PS/Secretary of State (L+B) – B
TALKS: KEEPING SINN FEIN OUT/LATE DECLARATION OF CEASEFIRE
The Secretary of State and Mr Spring agreed on Sunday afternoon
- the attached joint statement
- that you and the Tanaiste's Private Secretary should deliver it to the Sinn Fein delegation (in the facility room immediately inside Castle Buildings)
- that it should simultaneously be read to the media in the press village.
2. On the question of a later ceasefire\, they agreed
- to be acceptable any IRA statement had to be in identical terms to the August 1994 statement
- if it were delivered after 12 noon it would be too late to render Sinn Fein eligible for entry to the negotiations at 2pm [although the start of the negotiations instead might be put back]
- if the statement was equivocal the two Governments should immediately review the situation jointly
- however any statement was phrased\, it was crucial that the two Governments sang from the same hymn sheet.
3. Could Mr Bell please pass a copy of the agreed text to the Irish\, confirm the understandings above and check that the Tanaiste's Private Secretary (or a substitute?) will be available in Castle Buildings from at least mid-morning. Mr Wood might like to confirm press handling with his Irish opposite number.
4. For the record\, Mr Beeton will be briefed to greet any Sinn Fein party at the main gates with the following:
"The Secretary of State has asked me to invite you and up to 5 of your colleagues to accompany me to Castle Buildings where representatives of the British and Irish Governments are waiting to speak to you".
(Signed)
D J R HILL
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM
EXT CB 22317
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STATEMENT BY BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS
This is a joint statement issued by the British and Irish Governments. Sinn Fein are not at today's talks because there has seen no restoration of the August 1994 ceasefire. It has been the consistent position of both Governments since February, reflected in paragraph 9 of the Groundrules for Substantive All-Party Negotiations, that the resumption of Ministerial dialogue with Sinn Fein and their participation in negotiations, requires the unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire of August 1994.
