Joint Statement issued by John Hume and Gerry Adams, 18 July 1997

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), (18 July 1997)

"In our first joint statement in April 1993 we acknowledged that the most pressing issue facing the people of Ireland and Britain today is the question of a lasting peace and how it can be achieved and committed ourselves to addressing this issue. This has been our primary focus. It is our view that inclusive negotiations are the only way of reaching agreement and achieving a just and lasting peace for all the people of this island. We regret that, despite our collective efforts, inclusive and meaningful negotiations were not put in place and that the unprecedented opportunity created by the IRA cessation of August 1994 was wasted. Our principle concern is that this dreadful mistake is not repeated.

At our meeting last night we reviewed progress in removing the obstacles, erected by the previous British government, to an inclusive and meaningful negotiations process. These obstacles have been used tactically to prevent progress in the talks process at Stormont. We welcome the moves that have been made to remove these obstacles by the new Irish and British governments.

A just and lasting settlement will only be achieved if it is based on principles of democracy and equality and has the allegiance of both traditions.

Such a solution requires change, political and constitutional. It is for the Irish and British governments, in consultations with all the parties, to co-operate to bring this about in the shortest time possible and to legislate accordingly.

Our primary objective remains the achievement of a just and lasting peace for all the people of this island. We are committed to our continuing dialogue and to co-operation between our parties and others to bring this about. We reiterate that this process offers no threat to any section of the people of this island. Our objective is agreement and reconciliation.

It is our view that the peace process can be restored and that with political will on all sides we can move towards a new political agreement. There is a heavy onus on both governments, and particularly the British government, to respond positively and imaginatively, both in terms of the demilitarisation of the situation and particularly in dealing with the issue of prisoners, in urgently addressing the equality agenda and in assisting the search for agreement among the people of this island."

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.