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  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  3. Committee:British-Molyneaux Bilaterals
  4. Monday, 13 December 1993, at 21:30

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)

This project models the series of formal and informal negotiations which led to the publication, in December 1993, of a declaration issued jointly by the British and Irish Governments. The Joint Declaration was a critical policy document which paved the way for a ceasefire and the entry of Sinn Féin into formal talks. It also laid out a shared set of principles—including, crucially, self-determination for the people of Ireland subject to the consent of the people of Northern Ireland—which would come to underpin the Good Friday Agreement and provide a framework for its ratification.

British-Molyneaux Bilaterals

This committee has been created to model bilateral contacts between James Molyneaux and the British government.

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Session 42733: 1993-12-13 21:30:00

John Major and Michael Ancram met with Jim Molyneaux to get his thoughts on the latest draft of the Joint Declaration. He emphasised the importance of dropping the paragraphs on the Convention. It was agreed that Patrick Mayhew should take Ken Maginnins though the text prior to the release of the declaration, but not Ian Paisley. Further arrangements for John Major to discuss the text with Northern Irish constituional parties were also agreed. Molyneaux agreed to a line on the Joint Declaration which would focus on it being a 'complex' document, and suggested he provide editors with his own interpretations and readings of certain passages.

Membership (at session start):

Michael Ancram, Jim Molyneaux (2 total)

Representing 2 delegations:

British Government , UUP

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Resources (5):

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None

Resource Items (5):

Enclosure: Joint Declaration (JD15C) - (link)

Current working text with disputed passages in square brackets

Enclosure: Joint Declaration (JD15C) (Duplicate) - (link)

Duplicate of above. No difference.

Letter from Quentin Thomas to Michael Ancram Enclosing Joint Declaration (JD15C) and Notes for Meeting with Jim Molyneaux - (link)

Cover letter enclosing: CJ410562_36_Enclosed Joint Declaration JD15C - 13 December 1993. Updates on who has seen which version of the text and discussion on Molyneaux

Letter from Quentin Thomas to Michael Ancram Enclosing Joint Declaration (JD15C) and Notes for Meeting with Jim Molyneaux (Duplicate) - (link)

Duplicate of above. Only difference is note from 14 December 1993 about PUS handling meeting.

Record of a Meeting between John Major, Michael Ancram and Jim Molyneaux on 13 December 1993 at 21.30 - (link)

They spoke about the progress in the finalisation of the Joint Declaration and what the next steps are. Molyneaux gave his concerns over some of the phraseology. Then, they spoke about the possibility of talking to other unionists before or after the statement, the drafting of the text and Molyneaux's recommendations, before a discussion of the Select Committee.

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