AIM: A JOINT DECLARATION BY BOTH BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS

1. Leaving the past aside and regretting the pain and suffering caused by past failures to settle the relationships of the people of both islands satisfactorily.

2. Recognising that the implementation of the Single Market and the coming into being of European Union with the effective removal of all borders fundamentally changes the nature of British/Irish relationships. Further recognising that future developments which leave both parts of Ireland as the only part of the new Europe with no land links with the other regions, will intensify the common ground between both parts of Ireland and intensify the need for maximum co-operation to achieve maximum benefit from European Union.

3. Regret, however, that there remains a serious legacy of past relationships—a deeply divided people on the island of Ireland. This is a major concern of both governments and both deeply regret that these are the last remaining such divisions in the new European order.

4. Both governments recognise that these divisions can only end with the agreement of the people North and South in Ireland.

5. Both governments therefore commit themselves to using the maximum resources to create the atmosphere in which such agreement is made easier. Both governments find it unacceptable that these are the last remaining divisions in a Europe that has already ended many more deep and bitter quarrels. They will, therefore, promote intensive co-operation at all levels in order to strengthen the process of agreement.

6. The British Government reiterate yet again that they no longer have any selfish political or strategic interest in remaining in Ireland. Their sole interest is to see peace and agreement among the people who inhabit the island and will devote all their available resources to that end.

7. For its part the Irish Government recognises that the traditional objective of Irish nationalism—the exercise of self-determination by the people of Ireland as a whole—cannot be achieved without the agreement of the people of Northern Ireland. It would, therefore, commit itself to working for institutions of government North and South which would respect the diversity of the people of Ireland but allow them to work their substantial common ground together in order to build the necessary trust for an agreed future.

In order to pursue that strategy the Irish Government would set up a permanent Irish Convention in order to plan and implement the steps and policies required to break down the barriers which divide the people of Ireland and which prevent the exercise of agreed self-determination. If the British Government refuse the joint declaration, the Irish Government would proceed to set up the Convention with the additional objective of planning and implementing the policies required to persuade the British Government to adopt our strategy and objectives. Membership of the Convention would consist of elected representatives of all parties in Ireland who share the objective of a united self–determined Ireland.

• Joint Declaration: Hume Draft [JD1] (introduced on 1991-10-06 12:00:00 - CREATE - e951427) [This document]

• Joint Declaration: Hume Draft [JD1] (introduced on 1991-10-06 12:00:00 - CREATE - e951427) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]