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  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  3. Committee:Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings
  4. Monday, 29 November 1993, at 19:20

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)

This project models the series of formal and informal negotiations which led to the publication, in December 1993, of a declaration issued jointly by the British and Irish Governments. The Joint Declaration was a critical policy document which paved the way for a ceasefire and the entry of Sinn Féin into formal talks. It also laid out a shared set of principles – including, crucially, self-determination for the people of Ireland subject to the consent of the people of Northern Ireland – which would come to underpin the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and provide a framework for its ratification.

Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings

This committee has been created to model meetings between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach.

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Session 21844: 1993-11-29 19:20:00

John Major and Albert Reynolds had a phone call to discuss the Joint Declaration, the divergent views of the two governments and the upcoming Anglo-Irish Summit.

Membership (at session start):

John Major, Albert Reynolds (2 total)

Representing 2 delegations:

British Government , Irish Government

No imported or exported documents

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Record of a Phone Call between Albert Reynolds and John Major on 29 November 1993 at 19.20 - (file)

A summary record of a phone call between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach arranging the summit on 3 December and discussing the Joint Declaration. Also agreed to discuss the declaration with Molyneaux. Summry given of Taoiseach's reactions.

Record of a Telephone Conversation between Albert Reynolds and John Major on 29 November 1993 at 19.20 - (file)

A detailed record of a phone call between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach emphasised the unacceptability of the alternative British text. The Prime Minister emphasised the difficulty of carrying the Unionists and the damage done by the leaks. Agreement to hold the 3 December summit without the real possibility of coming to any final agreement. The Taoiseach expressed impatience with British prevarication.

Record of a Telephone Conversation between John Major and Albert Reynolds on 29 November 1993 at 19.20 - (file)

Aims for the Prime Minister can be summarised as: cessation of PIRA violence; Unionist acceptance and absence of violence; acceptance by majority of moderate people in UK. Disagreement over drafts of the Joint Declaration and confusion over which audience is being targeted. Rev. Magee recorded as telling the Taoiseach that the unionist paramilitaries are represented by him, not by Paisley and colleagues, and that they would not quarrel with JD. Prime Minister had heard otherwise. PM keen to meet on 3 December but Taoiseach less keen on the basis that no profress was being made. Arguing over whether the leak came from the IRA or the British Government. Discussion of the proposal for an Irish Convention.

Summary of a Telephone Conversation between John Major and Albert Reynolds on 29 November 1993 at 19.20 - (file)

Conclusion is to hold the summit and amend the Irish draft of the Joint Declaration.

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