FROM: MISS G HARRISON
TALKS SECRETARIAT
24 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: WEDNESDAY 24 JULY 1996: SUMMARY UP TO 3.00 PM
A reasonably productive day so far which has been spent considering the procedural rules, and the agenda. Both the Government and the Chairman have been engaged in bilaterals with the major parties.
2. On the procedural rules agreement seems to be close. The Chairman engaged in bilateral discussions with the UUP\, DUP and SDLP when he handed over a compromise text of the rules\, circulated under cover of Mrs McNally's note of earlier today.
3. In a bilateral discussion with both Governments at 1.40 pm\, Senator Mitchell reported that the UUP were content with the compromise text apart from rule 29 - which was the subject of a bad-tempered outburst from Mr Trimble during a bilateral with the Secretary of State earlier in the day when he made accusations of duplicity.
4. A compromise text on rule 29 has now been agreed between the two Governments which the Chairman will broker with Mr Trimble on the basis it is his language brokered with the two Governments. He will seek advice on handling the SDLP. Senator Mitchell also reported that the DUP had sought amendments to rules 2\, 16 and 17. Seamus Mallon was unwilling to contemplate amendments to rules 2 and 16 but indicated that he might possibly accept amendments to rule 17. The Senator proposed to broker the DUP proposed amendment to rule 17 with Mr Mallon but to leave rules 2 and 16 as they stand. The Senator's aim is to put a revised compromise text to all the participants.
5. On the agenda and timetable\, Mr Hill's text of an informal paper attached to his handling plan circulated earlier today\, was tabled with the Irish\, who produced their own text at 12.00 pm. Copy to follow by fax. This was close to ours. At 3.00 pm we gave the Irish various comments (on paragraphs 3\, 8\, first tiret and 9\,10\, and 11)\, subject to discussion as to timing and mode of deployment.
6. During a bilateral discussion with the Irish\, there was a long discussion around our paper to check whether we were in the same position. The Irish were concerned to ensure that there was agreement on a mechanism for dealing with decommissioning\, by establishing a Committee las in the 6 July scenario for the Opening Plenary) before the summer break. They were very concerned to ensure that the Unionists did not use decommissioning to block progress on the substantive issues.
7. Bilaterals on the procedural rules are continuing.
(Signed)
G Harrison (Miss)
Talks Secretariat
CB 22281
