Transcript of an interview with Ray Burke, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Mark Simpson for the Belfast Telegraph on 5 September 1997 and reproduced by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. On 20 July the Provisional IRA renewed its military ceasefire. On 29 August Mo Mowlam accepted the IRA ceasefire as legitimate and invited Sinn Féin to join the multi-party talks at Stormont. In this interview Burke discusses the future constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the stability of the peace negotiations. Four days later representatives of Sinn Féin entered Stormont and agreed to adhere to the Mitchell Principles.
Date of Release/Broadcast: September 1997
Name of First Interviewee: Ray Burke
Role at time of Interview: Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs
Interviewer: Mark Simpson
Purpose: News
Media: Transcript
Copyright:
Link: Read the transcript
Programme/Book/Article: Belfast Telegraph
Time Period covered: 1997
Key Individuals: Ray Burke, David Trimble, Princess Diana, Tony Blair
Key Words: Anglo-Irish Agreement, Downing Street Declaration, Framework Documents, North-South relations, East-West relations, European Union, economy, Provisional IRA, ceasefire, Mitchell Principles, Sinn Féin, UUP