text: partsoftheislandofIreland, andbetween Britain andIreland. Theimmediate taskistoestablish whetheritispossible tofindstructures fortalkswhichwill properly reflect theinterdependence ofthosethreecrucial ralationships. &L Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryRM/31 Al45/PV.9 143 (Mt.Co11!ns. IrelADd) ForfiveyearsnowtheAnglo-Irish Agreement hasbeenthebedrock onwhich Anglo-Irish relations havebeenconducted. TheAgreement isnotmerelyastatement ofprinciple butalsoaprogramme foraction. Itisthisdynamic elementthat givestheAgreement itsstrength an4vitality. Thepastfiveyearshaveseenan important seriesofadvances brought aboutbytheAgreem3nt, including newand strengthened fair-employment legislation, moreimpartial policing ofthemarching season, aneconomic regeneration programme forWestBelfast andtheestablishment oftheInternational FundforXreland, withgenerous support fromtheUnited States, theEuropean Community, CanadaandNewZealand. Equally, however, anhonestassessment wouldhavetopointupthedistance still'to betravelled. Fundamental questions remainabouttheroleandbehaviour ofthelocally recruited regiment oftheBritish Army,theUlsterDefence Regiment, questions thrownintoeven ~harperreliefbyallegatioDs ofcollusion andrelated issuesdealtwithintheStevens report. Harassment ofmembers ofthenationalist community bysectorsofthesecurity forcescontinues tobeasourceofthemost serious concern. Intheeconomic sectoritremainstobeseenwhether the regeneration programme forWestBelfadtwillfullyrespondtothedimensions ofthe problem orwhether thenewfair-employment legislation willhaveaneffectin practice inreducing current imbalances inthewort-fo~ce. Thefundamental issueswhichtheAnglo-Irish Agreement soeksto address -identity, equality andconfidence -areattheheartoftheproblemm of Northern Irelk\Dd. Inanynewarrangement betterandmorecomprehensive waysmaybe foundtoaddress thosequestions, buttheiSSUGSthemselves cannotbedismissed or downgraded inimportance. Thosewhourgethatanewarrangement beputinplace mustunderstand theDeedforreassurance tothenationalist community thatthe Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryBM/31A/45/PV.9 144 (Mr.tellinse IrelAnd) •intention i~togoforward andnotbackwards. Memories of60yearsofStormont ruleanddiscrimination arenoteasilyerased,especially since,formany nationalists, theyarekeptv0ryactively alivebythecontinuing experience of Unionist controlatlocal-authority level. Theneedforreassurance isnotofcourseconfined toonecommunity. Wefully recognize theconcerns ofUnionists .•theirfearsandthesenseofthreatthatmany oftheircommunity livewi.th. Weareconscious thatourunderstanding ofthe Unionist position wouldbegreatly enhanced byhearing Unionist viewsatfirst hand.Thatiswhywe-have sooftenandsogenuinely expressed ourreadiness to enterintodialogue withleadersofthatcommunity. Withsomuchofsubstance re~uiring discussion between us,itissurelyinnoone'sinterest thatartificial barriers beplacedinthewayofsuchdialogue. Iwouldwish,finally, thatthisbodyshouldbeconscious ofaparticularly positive developmen~ inAnglo-Irish relations sinceourlastGeneral Assembly. Threecasesdatingfromthemid-1970s inwhichIrishpeoplewerewidelybelieved to havebeenwrongly convicted inBritish courts-theGuildford Four,theMaguire familyandtheBirmingham Six-havebeenofgreatconcern tomyGovernment and havecastadeepshadowoverAnglo-Irish relations. Withinthelastyeartheinnocence oftheGuildford Fourhasfinally been established, andtheothertwocasesappearwellonthewaytoresolution. The recentreferral oftheBirmingham SixcasetotheCourtofAppealisaparticularly important andwelcome development. Thol!ssixmenhavealready spent16years behindbars.Iknowthatconcerned peopleeverywhere willshare.myGovernment's verygreatsenseefurgency aboutasatisfactory resolution ofthiscaseatthe ea~liest possible date• Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryRM/31Al45/PV.9 145 (Mr.COllins, Ireland) Theinternational co~~unity andthisOrganization faceanimportant challenge intheperiodahead. Atthesametimeitisanopportunity, anopportunity to establish amoreacceptable world ~rder. Agoodbeginning hasbeenmade.Letus dedicate ourselves withintheUnitedNationstosustaining theeffortneededto thisend.Theprizetobegainedisgreat.Itisalsooftheutmcstsignificance forthefutureofallofus. Themeeting roseat8.15p.m. , Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library
analysis: The text appears to be a speech or statement from a government official, likely the Irish Prime Minister, discussing the state of Anglo-Irish relations, the implementation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and the challenges facing Northern Ireland. The speech touches on issues such as economic regeneration, employment, and security concerns, as well as the importance of dialogue and reconciliation. It seems that the category that best fits this text is one that encompasses international relations, politics, and governance.