[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E 2283]]


          MOVEMENT TOWARD PERMANENT PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 1995

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton's recent visit to the 
north and south of Ireland, has enhanced the momentum toward finding 
lasting peace and justice on the whole island. The President is to be 
commended for his efforts in this important cause.
  The peace process that has seen a cease-fire in the north of Ireland 
honored on all sides for more than 15 months, has yet to produce the 
critical all-party inclusive talks essential to finding through 
political dialogue, a lasting reconciliation and a permanent peace. The 
people of all Ireland clearly desire those goals, as was demonstrated 
by the joyous, supportive, and warm reception the President's peace 
visit received in both parts of the island.
  The Congress was well represented on this important, historical trip 
of President Clinton to help advance the peace process in Ireland, at a 
point in time when it was stalled, the momentum lost, and a return to 
violence a real possibility.
  A strong bipartisan delegation of both House and Senate members led 
by my good friend James Walsh (R-NY), the chairman of the Friends of 
Ireland accompanied the President. The congressional delegation met 
with all the parties in the north and south, and engaged in an 
important and further dialogue to help sustain the progress toward 
peace, which President Clinton's visit had motivated.
  The bipartisan congressional delegation issued a statement, which in 
part unanimously stated, that the delegation urges that ``* * * a fixed 
and concrete date be promptly set for all party inclusive talks 
following the completion of the International Body's findings under the 
leadership of former United States Senator George Mitchell of Maine.''
  The arms decommissioning issue that this International Body will 
address by mid-January 1996 has sadly too often been a smoke screen, 
and unfortunately used as a totally unwarranted precondition by many to 
stall and prevent critical all-party inclusive talks and dialogue. What 
the north of Ireland needs in order to truly get the arms held by both 
sides out of the process, is really a decommissioning of the mind set 
of the many who are resistant to change on both sides. That must and 
can only take place across the bargaining table in this long, tragic, 
and deeply divisive ``troubles'' that must come to a permanent end.
  Once the arms issue report is completed by the International Body in 
mid-January next year, it is hoped that no more excuses, delaying 
tactics, nor any one side's veto will be tolerated by the interested 
governments. We must soon thereafter have a fixed concrete and 
nonnegotiable date set for all party talks at the peace table. The 
target date for these talks in late February, can not, and must not, 
become a moving target.
  The delegation is commended for its firm statement and understanding 
of what needs to be done. Talks must soon begin in earnest, and the 
future of all Ireland settled at the bargaining table by the warm and 
generous people of Ireland, not by any bombs or guns.
  The future generations of Irish youth and Ireland's many friends here 
and all around the world will be following very closely the progress 
toward lasting peace which President Clinton's visit has stimulated 
once again. We in the Congress will do all in our power to see that 
this momentum does not slip away.
  Mr. Speaker, I request that the full text of the bi-partisan 
delegation's statement be included at this point in the Record.

 Congressional Delegation Applauds Movement Toward Permanent Peace and 
                Reconciliation; Urges Continued Progress

                  (Dublin, Ireland, December 1, 1995)

       Chairman James Walsh (R-NY)--Head of the Bi-Partisan 
     Delegation accompanying President Clinton's visit to Ireland 
     issued the following statement on behalf of the delegation.
       ``The enormous celebration of Peace we have all witnessed 
     among people of both the north and south of Ireland is a 
     reflection of the enormous desire to make the current peace 
     permanent, and find lasting justice on the whole island of 
     Ireland. The young people of Ireland's future must be secured 
     through the removal of violence as a means for change.
       ``After seeing an obvious display of support for peace by 
     the people of Ireland, and after meeting with all political 
     parties, north and south, the delegation is firmly convinced 
     that a lasting political solution can, and must, be found 
     through political dialogue. Specifically, we support the 
     recent twin track agreement.
       Mr. Walsh went on to say, ``I applaud President Clinton's 
     continued leadership in helping move the peace process 
     forward and using the influence and moral will of America to 
     help advance the peace process.''
       Mr Walsh concluded by saying, ``The delegation was 
     unanimous in urging that a fixed and concrete date be 
     promptly set for all-party inclusive talks following the 
     completion of the International Body's findings under the 
     leadership of former United States Senator George Mitchell of 
     Maine.''

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