The joint statement from the Northern Ireland Information Service, dated 15 September 1997, outlines the positions of the Prime Minister [Tony Blair] and the Taoiseach [Bertie Ahern] as the talks resume. Both governments reaffirm their commitment to previously signed documents, including the Downing Street Declaration, and emphasize the principles of consent and decommissioning as crucial to the negotiations. They stress that any agreement must command sufficient consensus among participants and highlight the establishment of an Independent Commission to address decommissioning, in line with the Mitchell Report. The statement underscores that successful decommissioning relies on the cooperation of paramilitary organizations and expresses hope that progress in political talks will lead to the decommissioning of some arms, thereby contributing to confidence-building and momentum towards a lasting agreement.
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