17 JUN '96 10:04 TO DFA PAGE.002
COPY TO:
PST
PSS
MR.P TEAHON
MR. S. DONLON
MR. T DALTON
{4E 18/6}
CONFIDENTIAL
Multi-Party Talks
Summary Report 17 June 1996
1. All delegates were present (although UKUP seemed more in an observer role). The days business was entirely devoted to a discussion of the rules of procedure.
2. When the meeting opened at 10 am the Chairman invited delegates to make a 10 minute presentation on this issue. Interventions were generally along the lines of the papers which had been tabled. All delegations condemned the Manchester bombing and there was a general sentiment that this challenge to democratic values made it especially incumbent on the participants to show clearly the negotiating process could work.
3. At the end of the round of statements the Chairman under took to circulate a tabulated paper setting out the options side by side\, and the meeting resumed at 2.15 pm to consider this. The Chairman invited comments by delegations\, on each "box" but made it clear he was not pressing matters to decision at that point.
4. The pattern of comments followed relatively predictable patterns. Unionist concerns were to limit as far as possible the discretion of Chairman to act except at the behest or after agreement of participants and to make the business committee the pivotal point for any collective decisions outside the strand format. There was a long discussion of' sufficient consensus' with most parties supporting the Government pragmatic definition but the DUP insisting that a quantifiable approach (e.g. a 75% threshold would be best).
5. The tone of all the discussion was notably constructive and positive\, including by Robinson in absence of Paisley\, apart from some glancing criticisms of the Tanaiste {D Spring} by Trimble in the early stages. The differences around the table did not seem unbridgeable. At the end of the meeting\, at the request of Alliance\, it was agreed that the Chairman's staff should produce a composite draft for consideration by participants.
6. The meeting will resume at 10.00 am tomorrow to consider a tabulated version of the competing agenda proposals. This latter will bring out the difficulty of handling the decommissioning issue. We understand there may have been contact between the British and the UUP on the issue. We have indicated to the British that the prospects for flexibility on the order of the agenda would be greatly increased if people had a clearer idea of how far the Unionists would press the point in the absence of Sinn Fein. We have asked the British to update us on any contacts at a meeting between both Governments and the Chairman fixed for 9.30 tomorrow.
7. Fonnal bilateral were held with
- UDP: They wished to protest about the mention of Senator Paddy Wilson in the Taoiseach's speech\, on grounds of embarrassment to John White.
- SDLP: To discuss likely developments in the negotiations.
- WOMENS COALITION: They wish to urge that the door should not be slammed on Sinn Fein.
- UUP: (See Mr _Cooney's_ note).
Sean O hUiginn
17 June 1996
