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Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

British Government detailed record of multi-party meetings on 30 September 1996

Tuesday, 01 October 1996

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This document details talks on a proposed exit strategy plan on 30 September 1996. Patrick Mayhew, the Secretary of State, indicated that a call with the UUP showed they could not accept the two Governments' plan. Their response to the proposal was their own paper on decommissioning, which showed departure from Mitchell and existing Government policy in putting decommissioning before negotiations and a “purgatory” period for Sinn Fein’s entry until a genuine ceasefire is established. Mayhew had a call with David Trimble of the UUP and made it clear he was under considerable pressure from the party and beyond. A bilateral with the Irish involved Mayhew responding to the UUP paper, highlighting that the departure from Mitchell rendered the paper impossible to support and largely unhelpful. The Irish Minister for Justice, Nora Owen, criticised the lack of unity within the Unionist camp and the UUP’s public delivery of the proposals in a press conference due to its impact on potential flexibility. The upcoming debate on decommissioning was scheduled. Departures from Mitchell suggested that the prospects of the talks were negative, but the move to a plenary was used nonetheless. Documentation other than the UUP paper needed to be available, so the Governments planned to issue their statement in response and reiterate the Mitchell proposal. Their joint “conclusions” paper would also be circulated. Mayhew met with UUP officials to express the disappointment and danger in their rejection of the joint proposal, to which Trimble highlighted their concession of entering talks without prior legislation. The UUP also denied departure from Mitchell and pointed to changing circumstances as the ceasefire had been broken. Their concern over veto power with the Irish and SDLP was also noted. Trimble explained their publicity as a response to the Governments’ proposal becoming public knowledge. Mayhew reported the UUP meeting back to the Irish and a trilateral was suggested.

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Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

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