USA: WASHINGTON: IRISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN BRUTON VISIT

Рет қаралды 1,168

9 жыл бұрын

(11 Sep 1996) English/Nat
The Irish Prime Minister, John Bruton, has told the U-S Senate that the Irish peace talks should move beyond procedure to substantive issues to stop all sides from missing the opportunity for peace.
Bruton was addressing a joint session of U-S lawmakers in Washington D-C on his official visit to the States.
The Irish Taoiseach - or Prime Minister - received rapturous applause as he walked into Washington's House of Representatives on Wednesday.
John Bruton said that he was honoured to be there, especially -- he noted -- as he was only the 30th European head of state to address a joint session of Congress since 1945.
The premiere was escorted into the chamber by a group of lawmakers including the Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and his son, Patrick, a congressman from Rhode Island.
As leaders of Northern Ireland's political parties continue to meet at Stormont Castle, Bruton said he believed the time had come for the talks to make serious progress.
SOUNDBITE:
"And against the background of 25 years of barbarity of every kind and almost four centuries of mistrust, it's hard to expect rapid agreement between nine different parties in the space of only six weeks. My own view is that the harmony that we seek will not come overnight, it will come in stages from the experience of working together to solve practical immediate problems. But if that it is to happen, it is the strong view of my government that the talks must now move beyond procedure and soon discuss really substantive issues... substantive issues of disagreement. This must happen quickly... (applause)... This must happen quickly if we're not to miss the window of opportunity so often highlighted by President Clinton during his recent visit to Ireland."
SUPER CAPTION: John Bruton, Irish Prime Minister
Crucial to this peace is the resumption of the I-R-A ceasefire, Bruton told the lawmakers.
SOUNDBITE:
"That means a cessation of violence by the I-R-A that will hold in all circumstance and I know that I have the fullest support of the United States' Congress for the vital objective."
SUPER CAPTION: John Bruton, Irish Prime Minister
Bruton said he was not calling on either side in Northern Ireland to break their traditional allegiances, merely to be willing to share power, renounce violence and accept differences.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...