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“ST. PATRICK'S DAY STATEMENT BY THE FRIENDS OF IRELAND” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S2343-S2344 on March 17, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ST. PATRICK'S DAY STATEMENT BY THE FRIENDS OF IRELAND
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, the Friends of Ireland is a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives opposed to violence and terrorism in Northern Ireland and dedicated to maintaining a United States policy that promotes a just, lasting, and peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Each year, the Friends of Ireland issues an annual statement of the current situation in Northern Ireland. We believe our colleagues in Congress will find this year's statement of particular interest because of the events of the past year and potential for progress this year. I ask unanimous consent that it be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the statement was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
Statement by the Friends of Ireland, St. Patrick's Day, 1997
On this St. Patrick's Day, we the Friends of Ireland renew our call for the IRA to restore its cease-fire, which should be followed by Sinn Fein's immediate entry into the Northern Ireland all-party peace talks when they resume in June.
The Friends of Ireland commend our former colleague, Senator George Mitchell, for his outstanding service as chairman of the talks. The talks offer an historic opportunity to address the three key relationships which must underpin any settlement--those within Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. We fully support this process, and recognize that there is much greater likelihood for success if all parties with an electoral mandate, including Sinn Fein, participate in the talks. Sinn Fein's participation in the talks, however, is properly conditional on the unequivocal restoration of the cease-fire by the IRA.
We also recognize that the IRA maintained a cease-fire for 17 months, from September 1994 to February 1996. It is of deepest concern that, during that long and hopeful period, additional obstacles were laid in the way of bringing all parties to the table. We hope that a renewed IRA cease-fire will on this occasion be met with an appropriate response by the British Government, including the taking of necessary confidence-building measures.
Basic issues of equal justice and human rights are at the heart of the conflict in Northern Ireland and they must be central to any realistic resolution of the conflict. Peace without justice is not sustainable. It is only likely to flourish when all sides feel that their basic rights are respected and protected. Accordingly, we urge prompt action to remedy outstanding miscarriages of justice such as the Casement and Latimer cases. In light of the compelling new evidence surrounding Bloody Sunday, we add our voice to the calls for a new inquiry into this tragedy.
We are also concerned by the deteriorating conditions under which Republican prisoners are being held in Britain and in particular the treatment of Roisin McAliskey. It is essential, in negotiating a new political framework for Northern Ireland, that respect for human rights be guaranteed. The creation of a Bill of Rights, and a police service with the confidence of the whole community, are essential to ensure the protection of the rights of all and to lay a solid foundation for a lasting peace.
We strongly oppose the continued and increased punishment beatings by paramilitaries in both communities. Such atrocities have no place in society, and we call for an immediate end to these attacks.
It is essential that there be no repeat of the deplorable events during last year's marching season. The RUC behavior at Drumcree further eroded the confidence of the Catholic community in fairness of the police force. As the State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices recently noted: ``Many observers on both sides of the community perceived the Government's reversal in the face of unlawful Unionist protests as a victory of might over the rule of law, and the incident damaged the RUC's reputation as an impartial police force.''
We therefore strongly endorse the recommendations in the North Report that an independent parades commission be given full decision-making powers to deal effectively with controversial parades. We are concerned at the British Government's decision to delay implementation of significant sections of the report, which in our view must be in place in advance of this year's marching season.
The Friends of Ireland welcome the strong commitment of President Clinton and the Congress to the success of the peace process in Northern Ireland, and the transformation in the situation which all have helped bring about. We are confident that the United States will continue to play a constructive role in encouraging an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict for the benefit of all the people of Northern Ireland.
friends of ireland executive committee
Senate
Edward M. Kennedy.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
Christopher J. Dodd.
House of Representatives
Newt Gingrich.
Richard A. Gephardt.
James T. Walsh.
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