|
|
|
The Church and Government Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has said that it is imperative for all-party talks to succeed and that everyone needs to be "generous and responsible in this moment of opportunity".
Meeting this morning (19-06-1966) in Belfast, the Committee welcomed the flexibility which saved all-party talks last week and has stated that "in a tense situation, it is a time for carefully measured speech. Intemperate language does not persuade and may inflame".
Reflecting the tone of the meeting Presbyterian Moderator, Dr. Harry Allen expressed regret at the upsurge of violence. "The killing of Det Garda McCabe and injuries to Det Garda OšSullivan together with the devastating bombing of Manchester have created further barriers to the to the development of trust and understanding that are vital in any mature society. Without a ceasefire and a commitment to taking the Mitchell Principles seriously we do not see how Sinn Fein can be involved in meaningful negotiations. We hope that the IRA will make it possible for Sinn Fein to take part in the talks."
The Church and Government Committee also expressed the hope that the loyalist paramilitaries will hold steady to their ceasefire so that the politicians associated with them can continue to exercise political leadership.
In closing, the statement asked both Unionists and Nationalists to address seriously the substantive challenges presented by all three strands of the talks.
"We seek accommodation. We do not want killing, bombing, funerals, dislocation and grief. There is no way we want to return to that", added the Moderator.
The full text of the Church and Government Statement follows:
1. It is imperative that the "All Party" talks succeed. It is time for all of us to look seriously into our hearts and do all we can to be generous and responsible in this moment of opportunity.
2. We deeply regret the outrage of the Manchester bomb and the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe and the attempted murder of Detective Garda Ben O'Sullivan. We express our sympathy to their families.
3. While it is desirable for Sinn Fein to be involved in the talks, we do not see how that party can be involved in serious negotiations without an IRA ceasefire and a commitment to taking the Mitchell Principles seriously. We hope that the IRA will make it possible for Sinn Fein to take part in the talks.
4. In a tense situation, it is a time for carefully measured speech. Intemperate language does not persuade and may inflame. Since these negotiations will require flexibility, we welcome the flexibility which saved the 'All Party Talks'. The resolution of such impasses will continue to require all round flexibility.
5. Since arms can be replaced, decommissioning is an issue primarily related to the building of trust and confidence, rather than only a matter of security.
6. The Church and Government Committee has found Senator Mitchell to be a man of sensitivity and integrity.
7. We re-affirm our conviction that it is the responsibility of the security forces to defend people and their communities. No other group can take this responsibility upon themselves.
8. We hope that the loyalist paramilitaries will hold steady to their ceasefire and continue to allow the politicians associated with them to exercise political leadership.
9. The peace process is not exclusively in the hands of elected politicians. Congregations should be involved in facilitating understanding and building trust across the deep, and frequently hidden, lines of rupture in their local communities.
10. There is no solution which is purely a 'Strand One' solution internal to Northern Ireland. This means that unionists must address themselves seriously to the substantive challenges of North-South relationships under Strand Two and build confidence with the nationalist community on this issue.
11. There is no solution which does not include Strand One. Nationalists need to address themselves seriously to the substantive challenges of Strand One and build confidence with the unionist community on this issue.
12. East-West relationships to be addressed in Strand Three are relevant to everyone and need the imaginative input of all the parties. (This is not a private inter-governmental affair).
13.We seek accommodation. We do not want killing, bombing, funerals, dislocation and grief. There is no way that we want to return to that.
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive