Downing St Declaration
JOINT DECLARATION
by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. John
Major MP and the Taoiseach, Mr. Albert Reynolds TD on the 15th
December 1993
The Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds TD, and the Prime Minister, the Rt
Hon John Major MP, acknowledge that the most urgent and important
issue facing the people of Ireland, North and South, and the British
and Irish Governments together, is to remove the causes of conflict,
to overcome the legacy of history and to heal the divisions which
have resulted, recognising that the absence of a lasting and
satisfactory settlement of relationships between the peoples of both
islands has contributed to continuing tragedy and suffering. They
believe that the development of an agreed framework for peace, which
has been discussed between them since early last year, and which is
based on a number of key principles articulated by the two
Governments over the past 20 years, together with the adaptation of
other widely accepted principles, provides the starting point of a
peace process designed to culminate in a political settlement.
The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister are convinced of the
inestimable value, to both their peoples, and particularly for the
next generation, of healing divisions in Ireland and of ending a
conflict which has been so manifestly to the detriment of all.
Both recognise that the ending of divisions can come about only
through the agreement and co-operation of the people, North and
South, representing both traditions in Ireland. They therefore make
a solemn commitment to promote co-operation at all levels on the
basis of the fundamental principles, undertakings, obligations under
international agreements, to which they have jointly committed
themselves, and the guarantees which each Government has given and
now reaffirms, including Northern Ireland's statutory constitutional
guarantee. It is their aim to foster agreement and reconciliation,
leading to a new political framework founded on consent and
encompassing arrangements within Northern Ireland, for the whole
island and between these islands.
They also consider that the development of Europe will, of itself,
require new approaches to serve interests common to both parts of
the island of Ireland, and to Ireland and the United Kingdom as
partners in the European Union.
The Prime Minister, on behalf of the British Government, reaffirms
that they will uphold the democratic wish of a greater number of the
people of Northern Ireland on the issue of whether they prefer to
support the Union or a sovereign united Ireland. On this basis, he
reiterates, on behalf of the British Government, that they have no
selfish strategic or economic interest in Northern Ireland. Their
primary interest is to see peace, stability and reconciliation
established by agreement among all the people who inhabit the
island, and they will work together with the Irish Government to
achieve such an agreement, which will embrace the totality of
relationships.
The role of the British Government will be to encourage, facilitate
and enable the achievement of such agreement over a period, through
a process of dialogue and co-operation based on full respect for the
rights and identities of both traditions in Ireland. They accept
that such agreement may, as of right, take the form of agreed
structures for the island as a whole, including a united Ireland
achieved by peaceful means on the following basis: The British
Government agrees that it is for the people of the island of Ireland
alone, by agreement between the two parts respectively, to exercise
their right of self-determination on the basis of consent, freely
and concurrently given, North and South, to bring about a united
Ireland, if that is their wish. They reaffirm, as a binding
obligation, that they will, for their part, introduce the necessary
legislation to give effect to this, or equally to any measure of
agreement on future relationships in Ireland which the people living
in Ireland may themselves freely so determine without external
impediment. They believe that the people of Britain would wish, in
friendship to all sides, to enable the people of Ireland to reach
agreement on how they may live together in harmony and in
partnership, with respect for their diverse traditions, and with
full recognition of the special links and the unique relationship
which exists between the peoples of Britain and Ireland.
The Taoiseach, on behalf of the Irish Government, considers that the
lessons of Irish history, and especially of Northern Ireland, show
that stability and well-being will not be found under any political
system which is refused allegiance or rejected on grounds of
identity by a significant minority of those governed by it.
For this reason, it would be wrong to attempt to impose a united
Ireland, in the absence of the freely given consent of a majority of
the people of Northern Ireland. He accepts, on behalf of the Irish
Government, that the democratic right of self-determination by the
people of Ireland as a whole must be achieved and exercised with,
and subject to, the agreement and consent of a majority of the
people of Northern Ireland, and must, consistent with justice and
equity, respect the democratic dignity and the civil rights and
religious liberties of both communities, including:
- the right of free political thought;
- the right to freedom and expression of religion;
- the right to pursue, democratically, national and political
aspirations;
- the right to seek constitutional change by peaceful and legitimate
means;
- the right to live wherever one chooses without hindrance;
- the right to equal opportunity in all social and economic
activity, regardless of class, creed, sex or colour.
These would be reflected in any future political and constitutional
arrangements emerging from a new and more broadly based agreement.
The Taoiseach, however, recognises the genuine difficulties and
barriers to building relationships of trust either within or beyond
Northern Ireland, from which both traditions suffer. He will work to
create a new era of trust, in which suspicion of the motives or
actions of others is removed on the part of either community. He
considers that the future of the island depends on the nature of the
relationship between the two main traditions that inhabit it.
Every effort must be made to build a new sense of trust between
those communities. In recognition of the fears of the Unionist
community, and as a token of his willingness to make a personal
contribution to the building up of that necessary trust, the
Taoiseach will examine with his colleagues any elements in the
democratic life and organisation of the Irish State that can be
represented to the Irish Government, in the course of political
dialogue, as a real and substantial threat to their way of life and
ethos, or that can be represented as not being fully consistent with
a modern democratic and pluralist society, and undertakes to examine
any possible ways of removing such obstacles.
Such an examination would, of course, have due regard to the desire
to preserve those inherited values that are largely shared
throughout the island or that belong to the cultural and historical
roots of the people of this island in all their diversity. The
Taoiseach hopes that, over time, a meeting of hearts and minds will
develop, which will bring all the people of Ireland together, and
will work towards that objective, but he pledges in the meantime
that, as a result of the efforts that will be made to build mutual
confidence, no Northern Unionist should ever have to fear in future
that this ideal will be pursued either by threat or coercion.
Both Governments accept that Irish unity would be achieved only by
those who favour this outcome persuading those who do not,
peacefully and without coercion or violence, and that, if in the
future a majority of the people of Northern Ireland are so
persuaded, both Governments will support and give legislative effect
to their wish.
But, notwithstanding the solemn affirmation by both Governments in
the Anglo-Irish agreement that any change in the status of Northern
Ireland would only come about with the consent of a majority of the
people of Northern Ireland, the Taoiseach also recognises the
continuing uncertainties and misgivings which dominate so much of
Northern Unionist attitudes towards the rest of Ireland. He believes
that we stand at a stage of our history when the genuine feelings of
all traditions in the North must be recognised and acknowledged. He
appeals to both traditions at this time to grasp the opportunity for
a fresh start and a new beginning, which could hold such promise for
all our lives and the generations to come. He asks the people of
Northern Ireland to look on the people of the Republic as friends,
who share their grief and shame over all the suffering of the last
quarter of a century, and who want to develop the best possible
relationship with them, a relationship in which trust and new
understanding can flourish and grow.
The Taoiseach also acknowledges the presence, in the constitution of
the Republic, of elements which are deeply resented by Northern
Unionists, but which at the same time reflect hopes and ideals which
lie deep in the hearts of many Irish men and women, North and South.
But, as we move towards a new era of understanding in which new
relationships of trust may grow and bring peace to the island of
Ireland, the Taoiseach believes that the time has come to consider
together how best the hopes and identities of all can be expressed
in more balanced ways, which no longer engender division and the
lack of trust to which he has referred. He confirms that, in the
event of an overall settlement, the Irish Government will, as part
of a balanced constitutional accommodation, put forward and support
proposals for change in the Irish constitution which would fully
reflect the principle of consent in Northern Ireland.
The Taoiseach recognises the need to engage in dialogue which would
address with honesty and integrity the fears of all traditions. But
that dialogue, both within the North and between the people and
their representatives of both parts of Ireland, must be entered into
with an acknowledgement that the future security and welfare of the
people of the island will depend on an open, frank and balanced
approach to all the problems which, for too long, have caused
division. The British and Irish Governments will seek, along with
the Northern Ireland constitutional parties through a process of
political dialogue, to create institutions and structures which,
while respecting the diversity of the people of Ireland, would
enable them to work together in all areas of common interest. This
will help over a period to build the trust necessary to end past
divisions, leading to an agreed and peaceful future. Such structures
would, of course, include institutional recognition of the special
links that exist between the peoples of Britain and Ireland as part
of the totality of relationships, while taking account of newly
forged links with the rest of Europe.
The British and Irish Governments reiterate that the achievement of
peace must involve a permanent end to the use of, or support for,
paramilitary violence. They confirm that, in these circumstances,
democratically mandated parties which establish a commitment to
exclusively peaceful methods and which have shown that they abide by
the democratic process, are free to participate fully in democratic
politics and to join in dialogue in due course between the
Governments and the political parties on the way ahead.
The Irish Government would make their own arrangements within their
jurisdiction to enable democratic parties to consult together and
share in dialogue about the political future. The Taoiseach's
intention is that these arrangements could include the
establishment, in consultation with other parties, of a Forum for
Peace and Reconciliation to make recommendations on ways in which
agreement and trust between both traditions in Ireland can be
promoted and established.
The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister are determined to build on the
fervent wish of both their peoples to see old fears and animosities
replaced by a climate of peace. They believe the framework they have
set out offers the people of Ireland, North and South, whatever
their tradition, the basis to agree that from now on their
differences can be negotiated and resolved exclusively by peaceful
political means. They appeal to all concerned to grasp the
opportunity for a new departure. That step would compromise no
position or principle, nor prejudice the future for either
community. On the contrary, it would be an incomparable gain for
all. It would break decisively the cycle of violence and the
intolerable suffering it entails for the people of these islands,
particularly for both communities in Northern Ireland. It would
allow the process of economic and social co-operation on the island
to realise its full potential for prosperity and mutual
understanding. It would transform the prospect for building on the
progress already made in the talks process, involving the two
Governments and the constitutional parties in Northern Ireland.
The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister believe that these arrangements
offer an opportunity to lay the foundations for a more peaceful and
harmonious future devoid of the violence and bitter divisions which
have scarred the past generation. They commit themselves and their
Governments to continue to work together, unremittingly, towards
that objective. |
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