CAIN Web Service

Fourth Joint Statement issued by John Hume and Gerry Adams, 28 August 1994



[CAIN_Home]
[KEY_EVENTS] [Key_Issues] [Conflict_Background]
PEACE: [Menu] [Summary] [Reading] [Background] [Chronology_1] [Chronology_2] [Chronology_3] [Articles] [Agreement] [Sources]

Page Compiled: Fionnuala McKenna

Fourth joint statement issued by Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Mr John Hume and Sinn Féin President, Mr Gerry Adams on Sunday 28 August, 1994

 

"We met today to review the present situation. In April last year we pointed out that everyone has a solemn duty to assist in the search for a lasting peace. Since then we have applied ourselves unremittingly to this task. As a result there has been an unprecedented focus on the development of an effective peace process.

Last Easter we indicated that we were investigating the possibility of developing an overall political strategy to establish justice and peace in Ireland. We are at present addressing this area in particular and we believe that the essential ingredients of such a strategy may now be available.

A just and lasting peace in Ireland will only be achieved if it is based on democratic principles. It is clear that an internal settlement is not a solution. Both governments and all parties have already agreed that all relationships must be settled.

All that has been tried before has failed to satisfactorily resolve the conflict or remove the political conditions which give rise to it. If a lasting settlement is to be found there must be a fundamental and thorough-going change, based on the right of the Irish people as a whole to national self-determination.

The exercise of this right is, of course, a matter for agreement between all the people of Ireland and we reiterate that such a new agreement is only viable if it enjoys the allegiance of the different traditions on this island by accommodating diversity and providing for national reconciliation.

We have publicly acknowledged that the task of seeking agreement on a peaceful and democratic accord for all the people of Ireland is our primary challenge. We are convinced that significant progress has been made in developing the conditions necessary for this to occur.

We underline that the process in which we are engaged offers no threat to any section of the people on this island. Our objective is agreement among our divided people.

In any new situation there is a heavy onus on the British government to respond positively, both in terms of the demilitarisation of the situation and in assisting the search for an agreed Ireland by encouraging the process of national reconciliation.

It is our informed opinion that the peace process remains firmly on course. We are, indeed, optimistic that the situation can be moved tangibly forward."

 

See also:

Hume, John., and Adams, Gerry. (1993), First Joint Statement issued by John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), (24 April 1993). Derry: SDLP.

Hume, John., and Adams, Gerry. (1993), Second Joint Statement issued by John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), (25 September 1993). Derry: SDLP.

Hume, John., and Adams, Gerry. (1993), Third Joint Statement issued by John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), (20 November 1993). Derry: SDLP.

Hume, John., and Adams, Gerry. (1994), Fourth Joint Statement issued by John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin, (28 August 1994). Derry: SDLP.

Hume, John., and Adams, Gerry. (1997), Joint Statement issued by John Hume and Gerry Adams, (18 July 1997). Belfast: SDLP.

 


CAIN contains information and source material on the conflict and politics in Northern Ireland.
CAIN is based within Ulster University.


go to the top of this page go to the top of this page
Last modified :