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Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

Draft Opening Statement for John Major for Joint Press Conference on 4 December 1991

Wednesday, 04 December 1991

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Draft text of the opening statement for John Major for the joint press conference of 4 December 1991. Annotated.

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PRIME MINISTER'S TALKS WITH MR HAUGHEY IN DUBLIN ON 4 DECEMBER

PRESS CONFERENCE: BRIEFING FOR THE PRIME MINISTER

Draft Opening Statement for the Prime Minister

The Taoiseach and I have had a very valuable discussion. We have exchanged views on current issues in the European Community, on other international issues, and on the Anglo-Irish relationship.

In my view these meetings have taken place too rarely. In future we [-hope-] [have decided] to meet every six months, alternating between Dublin and London. [-Our next meeting will be in London [probably after the British general election].-]

It is hard to see how we can make progress on the difficult issues we face without more regular contact. And if today's meeting is anything to go by, I feel sure that a continuing dialogue will bear fruit in time. We need to set an example. We need to show that democracy is strengthened by dialogue - and the
sooner [-all parties in Northern Ireland-] [everyone] commit[s] themselves to dialogue - not violence - the sooner we will start to solve our problems.

On the EC, the Taoiseach and I have discussed the position on a number of the issues likely to arise at the European Council in Maastricht on 9-10 December, which we will both be attending.

We share [many] similar views on a a number of issues notably CFSP, defence, the social area and powers for the European Parliament. [-We also discussed cohesion and interior and justice issues.-]

[-I hope that we can agree a declaration at Maastricht on cohesion. This subject will need to be considered further in the first half of next year in the context of the general financial review.-]

Some useful progress was made at the meetings in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday but a number of important issues still need to be sorted out. We will be doing our best in Maastricht to reach an agreement.

We had a useful discussion on the GATT round. I emphasised the importance of reaching agreement before the end of the year. This will require flexibility on all sides, but the prize of liberalizing world trade is a valuable one for all of us.

[-[On Libya, I explained the position taken by the UK, the USA and the French. It is imperative that the Libyans hand over the two people who have been charged in the Scottish and American courts.]-]

The Taoiseach and I have again discussed important aspects of the unique relationship between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Following on from our meetings in London and Luxembourg in the summer we have again stressed the great value of close co-operation across the whole range of issues between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

The Taoiseach and I affirm once again our unreserved condemnation of recent terrorist violence, including the tit-for-tat killings by both republican and loyalist terrorists. Our joint message to the terrorists is simple: their campaigns are futile and we are determined that those who commit terrorist crime should be brought to justice.

The Taoiseach and I agreed to [-examine further-] [keep under review] measures cross-border security co-operation. We also reiterated the importance which we attach to the arrangements for ensuring that fugitive offenders are brought to justice.

We welcomed the valuable and constructive political talks which took place in Northern Ireland earlier in the year. And we reaffirmed the commitment of both Governments to do all we could to help with the early launch of fresh talks.

[-[Finally I would like to say how delighted I was to hear that Terry Anderson may be released later today. I sincerely hope that all detainees will now be released. We will not cease our-]