23-FEB-1993 09:47
22-FEB-1993 16:54
FCO NEWS DEPT JAMES LEE
071 270 3734
F.16
CHPOCCHAKA
7.10
TRANSCRIPT B GUS O' DONNELL/FRANCIS CORNISH/MARK PELLEW
BACKGROUND BRIEFING - LONDON 22 FEBRUARY 1993
9
All three of us on this top table have served in Washington at the
We have all known to a varying degree the
embassy there.
ignorance about Northern Ireland that you meet in various areas spread around the United States, people believing that the Unionists are a minority, for example, in Northern Ireland
-
quite
a common mistake. I think anyone who understands the situation
and can face what we are trying to do there with the understanding
that we are trying very hard to work for the wishes of the
majority there to reach a peaceful solution and get all the
I think what Speaker political parties round the table can help.
There are
Foley has said generally in the past has been helpful.
other members of the Democratic Party who have not been so
helpful.
QUESTION:
The American diplomats are not very keen to use the words "special
relationship". Does that mean that in the future it will be
better to speak about a friendly or working relationship because
this relationship is less special today?
GUS O'DONNELL:
I think it is always for others to use terms about this
relationship. I think it is special in the sense that we have
worked together on various issues like within NATO, in the Gulf
war, in our various dealings with the UN Security Council and
through various trade matters. We like to think we can help
resolve EC-US trade disputes without violating the basic rule that