[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 44 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 44

 Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the conflict in 
                the northeast of the island of Ireland.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 1995

Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Manton, Mr. King, Mr. Engel, Mr. Meehan, 
and Mr. Blute) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the conflict in 
                the northeast of the island of Ireland.

Whereas the British Government has maintained military forces in the northeast 
        of the island of Ireland since August 1969;
Whereas in March 1995, as many as 18,000 British troops were stationed in the 
        northeast of the island of Ireland;
Whereas the British Government, in the Framework Document of February 22, 1995, 
        declared that it has ``no selfish strategic or economic interest in 
        Northern Ireland'';
Whereas the Irish Republican Army has declared and faithfully maintained a 
        ceasefire since August 31, 1994, which was followed by a similar 
        ceasefire declaration and observation by the Combined Loyalist Military 
        Command on October 13, 1994; and
Whereas the British Government has stated an apparent unwillingness to engage in 
        negotiations with the Sinn Fein political party until the Irish 
        Republican Army decommissions its armaments: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the demilitarization of the conflict in the northeast 
        of the island of Ireland will further the goals of peace and 
        reconciliation in Ireland;
            (2) in accordance with the principle of self-determination, 
        the British Government should announce, as soon as possible, 
        its intention to vacate and withdraw, in appropriate phases, 
        all British military forces from the northeast of the island of 
        Ireland not later than December 31, 1999;
            (3) the Irish Republican Army and the organizations which 
        comprise the Combined Loyalist Military Command should, at the 
        same time, in phases to be negotiated and agreed upon by all 
        groups in the peace process, decommission their weapons in 
        amounts proportionate to the phased withdrawal of British 
        troops from the northeast of the island of Ireland;
            (4) in recognition of the stability and length of the 
        existing cessation of hostilities by the Irish Republican Army 
        and the Combined Loyalist Military Command, the 
        demilitarization process should be initiated by the prompt 
        withdrawal of a substantial number of British military forces 
        from the northeast of the island of Ireland; and
            (5) the new North/South body proposed in the Framework 
        Document of February 22, 1995, should include as part of its 
        functions, oversight of compliance by all parties with such 
        demilitarization process.
                                 <all>