H. Res. 561
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
October 5, 1994.
Whereas Northern Ireland has for many years been riven by
violence;
Whereas this cycle of violence and death has embittered and
further separated the people of both great traditions on
the island of Ireland, so that reconciliation between them
has been made more difficult;
Whereas the Irish and British Governments have made joint
efforts pursuant to the Anglo Irish Agreement of 1985
and 3-stranded talks between and among the constitu-
tional parties of the north and the 2 governments to find
political solutions to this situation that would win the
support of the majority of the people of Ireland, North
and South;
Whereas the 2 governments have made further efforts in the
Downing Street Declaration of 1993 to establish prin-
ciples under which such a political settlement could be
negotiated among all the parties in Northern Ireland that
renounce the use of violence;
Whereas, after a period of internal debate and consideration,
the Irish Republican Army announced on August 31,
1994, a complete cessation of military operations and de-
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clared its willingness to participate in political talks with
other parties in Northern Ireland and the 2 governments;
Whereas the Irish Republican Army has kept its pledge to
end military operations since that time;
Whereas other loyalist and nationalist paramilitary organiza-
tions have not declared their intention to end the use of
military operations and have in fact continued attacks;
Whereas the policy of the United States has consistently sup-
ported the end of military operations and provided strong
diplomatic and material support for peace and reconcili-
ation throughout the island of Ireland, and particularly
through annual appropriations to the International Fund
for Ireland;
Whereas the Congress of the United States has played a role
of support for this Fund and for the efforts of the 2 gov-
ernments and of courageous leaders of nonviolence from
both traditions in Northern Ireland such as John Hume,
whose inspiration and dogged determination helped con-
vince the Irish Republican Army to lay down its arms;
Whereas the announcement of the Irish Republican Army
ceasefire and the determination of the 2 governments to
offer a framework for comprehensive political dialogue
between all the political parties in Northern Ireland now
offer an historic climate for genuine peace and reconcili-
ation in all of Ireland; and
Whereas the International Fund for Ireland and the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation at this critical moment
can play a key role in building a public-private partner-
ship in support of the peace process in Northern Ireland,
such as through an Overseas Private Investment Cor-
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poration equity fund for the Republic of Ireland and
Northern Ireland: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) commends the British and Irish Govern-
ments for the steps they have taken and are taking
to encourage and facilitate all-party talks leading to
a lasting political settlement acceptable to, and rati-
fied by, the people of Ireland, north and south;
(2) urges the 2 governments to include all par-
ties that renounce violence into such talks as soon
as possible;
(3) hails the complete and permanent cessation
of Irish Republican Army military operations as an
essential step to such a settlement;
(4) calls upon all other paramilitary organiza-
tions in Northern Ireland similarly to cease the em-
ployment of violence;
(5) expresses strong support for United States
economic development programs such as the Inter-
national Fund for Ireland and the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation that can contribute to a cli-
mate of economic development in which peace, rec-
onciliation, and justice become achievable goals for
all in Northern Ireland; and