JOINT STATEMENT BY SINN FÉIN AND THE S.D.L.P.

Sinn Fein National Party Chairperson, Mitchel McLaughlin, this morning led a Sinn Fein delegation to meet a delegation from the SDLP. The parties agreed to a joint statement, which marks a significant development and progress in relations between them, and in the peace process.

Mr. McLaughlin, speaking after the meeting, said:

"Despite the obstacles placed in its path, the peace process has achieved much in the past two years.

"This joint statement by the SDLP and Sinn Fein is one of the most significant highpoints of this period.

"It sets out those principles on which our parties believe a peace process and a political settlement must be based, and those areas, economic and cultural, where we share similar concerns and have now pointed the way forward.

"Both parties reiterate our call for all-party peace talks which will address all issues, constitutional and political, which go to the heart of our problem, and of course the question of all arms, now thankfully silent."

Quoting from the Joint Statement, Mr. McLaughlin said: "The process of building a lasting peace is a problematic and difficult one. It will of course require courage, flexibility, and imagination. Everyone has a solemn duty to change the political climate away from conflict and towards a process of national reconciliation, which sees the peaceful accommodation of the differences between the people of Britain and Ireland and between the Irish people themselves.

"The coming year should be a year of opportunity, and we hope, a watershed year in the search for a permanent resolution to the conflict in our country."

1. The past year has seen significant and far-reaching changes which have transformed the political situation in Ireland, and brought a peaceful resolution of our problems within reach. The necessary dialogue which lies ahead, involving both government and all parties, will be difficult. No-one should be afraid of dialogue, however, and no-one should set obstacles in the way of its commencement and development. It is the only possible way forward.

2. For a peace process to be successful, it must be based upon principles which address the substantive issues and contain the dynamic to move the situation forward. Arising from the dialogue initiated by our party leaders, John Hume and Gerry Adams, our respective parties have recognized from the outset a number of essential basic principles:
   • Peace and how it can best be achieved is the most pressing issue facing the peoples of Ireland and Britain;

   • Failures in the past to settle the relationships between the people of both islands on the basis of a peaceful and democratic accord has led to permanent instability and continuing conflict;

   • A permanent peace can only be achieved by creating institutions which have the loyalty of all sections of our people, thus automatically removing the underlying causes of conflict and instability;

   • The relationships between the people of Ireland must be addressed and ultimately agreed by the people of Ireland themselves;

   • We accept that the people of Ireland as a whole have a right to national self-determination. This is a view shared by the majority of the people of this island, though not by all its people. The exercise of self-determination is a matter for agreement between the people of Ireland. We are mindful that not all the people of Ireland share that view or agree on how to give meaningful expression to it. Indeed we do not seek the disguise the different views held by our own parties.

3. There is a widespread acceptance that we now have the opportunity to establish peace - it must be grasped. There is an urgent need for the commencement of all-party peace talks. These are necessary for the achievement of an agreed and lasting settlement. We call upon the two governments to set a date in September to initiate this critical new phase of the peace process.

4. We both recognize that a new agreement is only achievable and viable if it can earn the allegiance of the different traditions on this island, by accommodating diversity, and providing for national reconciliation.

5. We are convinced that a democratic process can be designed to lead to agreement amongst the divided people of this island, which will permit for continued political evolution, and provide a solid basis for peace.

6. The collective experiences of the past 75 years make it self- evident that an internal settlement in the North is not a solution, as such a solution fails to deal with all the relationships that go to the heart of the problem.

7. In 1988, both our parties agreed that in a new situation, such as that which has now been created, that we would co-operate to ensure that all people in Ireland were treated equally, that their traditions would be respected, and that no section or people would feel, or be treated, as second-class citizens. To this end, delegations from Sinn Fein and the SDLP are engaged in a series of meetings intended to improve mutual understanding, to develop agreement on resolving the underlying grievances which have fuelled past conflict, and towards promoting the social, economic and cultural life of all our people. Each party is equally committed to engaging with other parties on the basis of these objectives and is actively pursuing contacts to this effect.

8. Neither party seeks preferential treatment or privilege for any section of our people. We seek equality of treatment before the law and parity of esteem for all traditions on this island.

9. The issues which require immediate attention and visible progress fall into three broad categories: political, economic and cultural.

   Political:

   • The political process must be speedily advanced in a constructive and positive atmosphere. Both governments and all parties must be treated and treat with each other on an equal basis. No political party should be, nor should they feel in any way, excluded from the process because of contrived pre-conditions.

   • One immediate objective of the peace process should be to ensure that we create an environment in which no tradition feels threatened.

   • All issues, constitutional and political, which go to the heart of our problem must be on the table for negotiations. Central questions are obviously the creation of institutions of order, including police and judicial services, which have the allegiance, loyalty and participation of all sections of our people, and the removal of all emergency legislation. Other matters that will have to be settled satisfactorily are the questions of the prison population which has arisen from the troubles, and of course the question of arms, now thankfully silent.

     Economic:

   • The immense support, commitment and determination to promote economic reconstruction which is now evident in so many quarters, require an energetic and concerted response from all our respective parties. The strategy for economic reconstruction must be one which is socially inclusive, directing special attention at those groups and areas which have experienced and continue to experience serious social and economic disadvantage. In this context, initiatives to ensure fair employment remain a high priority. Effective affirmative action programmes to ensure its achievement and an end to discrimination, and the question of equality of opportunity, must be central.

     Cultural:

   • The cultural diversity of our people must be respected and developed on all fronts, not least the Irish language, as well as sport and other cultural pursuits, all of which add to the richness of our society.

10. The process of building a lasting peace is a problematic and difficult one. It will, of course, require courage, flexibility and imagination. Everyone has a solemn duty to change the political climate away from conflict and towards a process of national reconciliation, which sees the peaceful accommodation of the differences between the people of Ireland and Britain and between the Irish people themselves.

11. The coming year should be a year of opportunity, and we hope, a watershed year in the search for a permanent resolution to the conflict in our country.

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