Record of an opening plenary meeting on 27 January 1997 at 14.55 (OIC/PS58)

This is the draft summary record of an opening plenary session on Monday 27 January 1997 at 14.55. The Chairman asked for the parties' thoughts on proceeding with the debate suggested by Alliance on the position of the loyalist-aligned parties following the recent carbombings. The majority of the parties expressed a desire not to have the debate, but it ensued. The DUP and the UKUP questioned the British Government extensively about its decision not to indict the loyalist parties. The British Government stated that it did not consider them to have dishonoured the Mitchell principles, but it refused to be drawn on the status of the loyalist ceasefire and to provide any further information about the incidents. The UKUP was concerned about the potential application of the distinction between political party and terrorist grouping to Sinn Féin. The Chairman ruled that a discussion should be held until 17.00 on the question. Alliance thought the CLMC might condemn the attacks. The UKUP considered this unlikely. The PUP did not understand why debate was being held on a motion the majority of parties preferred not to debate. After a brief adjournment, the SDLP stressed again that decommissioning needed to happen as part of an overall political process. Labour accused the UKUP of not making the indictment itself out of a concern for personal safety, which the UKUP denied. The UUP accused the Irish Government and the SDLP of causing the lack of agreement on decommissioning and emphasised the difference between the PIRA and the CLMC. The British Government agreed to circulate its statement on the position of the loyalist parties.

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Opening Plenary Meetings 1997-01-27 14:55

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Writing Peace: George J. Mitchell Collection

Record of an opening plenary meeting on 27 January 1997 at 14.55 (OIC/PS58)

Thursday, 30 January 1997

Writing Peace: George J. Mitchell Collection