FROM: MISS G HARRISON
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM
11 JUNE 1996
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PRE-PLENARY MEETING: INT/2
I attach a copy of the internal record of this morning’s pre-plenary meeting.
(Signed)
G HARRISON (MISS)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM
EXT CB 22281
Ref: INT/2
RECORD OF THE SECOND PRE-PLENARY SESSION HELD AT CASTLE BUILDINGS HELD ON 11 JUNE 1996
_British Government Team_
Secretary of State
Michael Ancram
Sir David Fell
_Alliance Party_
Dr Alderdice
Mr Close
Mr Neeson
_NI Women’s Coalition_
Ms McWilliams
Ms Sagar
_SDLP_
Mr Hume
Mr Mallon
Mr McGrady
_UDUP_
Dr Paisley
Mr Robinson
Rev McCrea
_UUP_
Mr Trimble
Mr Taylor
Mr Empey
_Irish Government Team_
Tanaiste
Mrs Owen
Mr de Rossa
_Labour_
Malachi Curren
Hugh Casey
_PUP_
Mr Smyth
Mr Ervine
_UDP_
Mr McMichael
Mr White
_UK Unionist_
Mr McCartney
Dr O’Brien
Mr Wilson
The meeting began at 9.12am following complaints from Dr Paisley about the lateness of the arrival of the British and Irish delegations.
1. As agreed the previous day\, the meeting was chaired by the Secretary of State who opened the meeting by apologising for the delay. Dr Paisley\, on a point of order\, suggested that it might be better if delegates were summoned from rooms when the top table were ready. The Secretary of State thanked Dr Paisley for his sound suggestion.
2. The Secretary of State went on to say that yesterday he had suggested meeting at 9am today to consider the results of the Government’s bilateral discussions with the parties. Those meetings had proven valuable. The two Governments thought it right to put to the delegations a paper proposing a possible way forward. Unfortunately the paper was not yet complete but it was hoped that it would be available in 15 minutes or so when it would be issued to delegations. He proposed that the meeting should proceed as suggested yesterday by adjourning until 11 O’clock. He hoped that the paper would form the basis of further discussion and negotiations and both Governments were available to discuss this paper with delegations.
3. Dr Paisley pursued his point about summoning delegations when all were ready. Mr Trimble then pointed out that it was originally envisaged that the parties would have 2 hours between 9am and 11am to consider the paper and as this had been delayed\, further time might be required for consultations. Dr Alderdice sought clarification which he received\, to the effect that the reference was to a reconvening of the pre-plenary meeting.
4. Mr Mallon asked about the origin and status of the paper. The Secretary of State confirmed that the paper would be put to the delegations by both Governments for discussion\, as a possible basis for proceeding. The Secretary of State also agreed to accept Dr Paisley’s suggestion and set 11 O’clock as a target for reconvening but if consultations were still continuing he hoped that the delegations would accept that he wouldn’t summon them at that time.
5. Mr Mallon then sought assurance that the basis of the Talks was not being redrafted. The Secretary of State responded by asking the delegations to look at the paper as a whole on its merits. Mr Mallon asked if any other parties had had access to the paper. After further questioning from Mr Mallon the Secretary of State explained that the Government had reflected upon the plenary and bilateral discussions of yesterday and had worked on a paper overnight. In the light of this he had taken some soundings and had shown a copy of a draft to the UUP. However he had sought no response from them and he had had no time to discuss the papers with others. Mr Robinson then queried why the Secretary of State had time to talk to some parties and not others. The Secretary of State observed that he had spent time with all the parties and suggested that the meeting move on.
6. Mr Mallon asked whether the Secretary of State had had detailed discussions with Senator George Mitchell about the paper. He considered it the position of Senator Mitchell was crucial to the negotiations and it was grossly unfair and discourteous to him to present it to the delegations without consulting with him. The Secretary of State indicated that he would be acquitted of that discourtesy.
7. Dr Paisley asked the Secretary of State whether the proceedings of the meeting were being recorded and relayed outside the room. This was clearly triggered by reports of a sound feed to the Secretary of State’s office\, which Senator Mitchell and the other Independent Chairmen had been using during the previous day. The Secretary of State referred to the need to be courteous to Senator Mitchell and then commented that he wasn’t aware that confidentiality had been observed by some who had spoken to the press during the course of the previous day. The meeting then adjourned at 9.25am.
8. After the meeting the Secretary of State wrote to Dr Paisley giving details of the audio feed. This was copied to the heads of all the other delegations. A copy is attached to these minutes.
G HARRISON (MISS)
EXT CB 22281
__________________________________________________________________________
Dr Ian Paisley MP, MEP
DUP Delegation
At our meeting this morning you asked whether there was a live audio feed from the Conference Room.
There is such a feed. Speakers are located in my office and in the office assigned to Senator Mitchell. These were installed as a courtesy to Senator Mitchell and to facilitate the two Prime Ministers when they were present yesterday. There is no recording facility and the press do not of course have any access whatsoever to the feed.
I am sending a copy of this note to the heads of all the other delegations present in the building.
SECRETARY OF STATE
