FROM: MISS G HARRISON
TALKS SECRETARIAT
25 JULY 1996
cc: PS/Secretary of State (B&L) - B
PS/Sir John Wheeler (B, L&DFP) - B
PS/Michael Ancram (B, L&DENI) - B
PS/Malcolm Moss (L, DHSS&DOE) - B
PS/Baroness Denton (L, DED&DANI) - B
PS/PUS (B&L) - B
PS/Sir David Fell - B
Mr Thomas (B&L) - B
Mr Legge - B
Mr Leach (B&L) - B
Mr Steele - B
Mr Watkins - B
Mr Wood (B&L) - B
Mr Beeton - B
Mr Currie - B
Mr Hill (B&L) - B
Mr Lavery - B
Mr Lindsay - B
Mr Maccabe
Mr Perry - B
Mr Stephens - B
Ms Checksfield - B
Miss Harrison (B&L) - B
Ms Mapstone - B
Mr Whysall (B&L) - B
Ms Collins, Cab Off (via IPL) - B
Mr Dickinson, TAU - B
Mr Lamont, RID - B
HMA, Dublin - B
Mr Westmacott (via RID) - B
Mr Campbell-Bannerman - B
Mrs NcNally (B&L) - B
NOTE FOR THE RECORD
TALKS: THURSDAY 25 JULY 1996: SUMMARY UP TO 3.00 PM
The day began well, but by lunchtime, a bilateral meeting with the UUP brought out a serious misunderstanding of the UUP position on the handling of decommissioning in relation to the launch of three-stranded negotiations.
2. The two Governments circulated to other participants their joint paper on the agenda (see my note of earlier today). At an informal conferral session parties were invited to table their proposals for the agenda for the Opening Plenary\, with a view to discussion this afternoon. Proposals from the DUP\, UKUP and UP are expected. The aim is to agree the agenda for the Opening Plenary with a view to formal adoption at a resumed Opening Plenary Session on Monday 29 July. The Chairman also obtained agreement on the sequence of events on Monday.
3. During the day bilaterals took place with various parties. The UDP\, were opposed to the idea of a Committee being established to consider decommissioning over the summer\, in the absence of any other political talks. The DUP\, expressed concern about parts of the agenda of the Opening Plenary\, particularly the reference to a commitment to "work constructively to implement all aspects" of the Report of the International Body" in item 4 (b) of the Resumed Opening Plenary agenda. They reaffirmed their view that decommissioning was for the two Governments. The Alliance were concerned that two days of talks scheduled for next week would not allow sufficient time for such a big issue as decommissioning.
4. The UUP bilateral with Michael Ancram brought bad news. Having believed that the Revised Opening Plenary agenda was acceptable to the UUP\, Messrs. Donaldson\, Taylor and Empey indicated that the UUP position on decommissioning was not the same as the Government had understood it following previous meetings and conversations. The UUP were not prepared to go into three-stranded talks until the mechanisms for handling decommissioning\, such as sequencing and timing etc. were agreed; otherwise there would not be decommissioning in parallel with negotiations but only talking about decommissioning (Dick Spring's fourth strand). In support\, Jeffrey Donaldson quoted paragraph 38 of the Report of the International Body which refers to details of decommissioning\, " . . . . . including supporting confidence-building measures\, timing and sequencing\, have to be determined by the parties themselves." Consequently it would not be possible to complete addressing decommissioning in two or three days next week.
5. . The UUP were also concerned about item 4 (b) of the Agenda\, all aspects" of the Report and wanted to limit the commitment to section 6 of the Report.
6. While the general handling of this issue is being considered\, it was agreed to approach this afternoon's conferral session by resting on our assertion that all the work proposed can be completed next week and to focus the discussion on procedural matters rather than issues of substance.
7. The afternoon's conferral session is currently continuing.
(Signed)
G Harrison (Miss)
Talks Secretariat
CB 22281
25 July 1996
