Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Northern Ireland, Iran and Police Inquiry
Northern Ireland
When asked if there was to be any statement on Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) told journalists that as events were unfolding in Belfast as he spoke, it would be better to see where things went. This was probably a moment that everyone would remember. The PMOS said that the whole point of the peace process had been to get to the stage where Northern Ireland politicians met and decided the future of Northern Ireland. If we had reached that point, the significance of it could not be understated.
Asked if the Prime Minister would say anything, the PMOS replied that if the meeting between Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley took place, then the Prime Minister would speak.
Asked if emergency legislation would be required, the PMOS said that it all depended on the outcome of the meeting. People should be clear; if there was a consensus about the way forward, the British Government was not going to stand in the way of that consensus. The important thing was, however, was that there had to be an agreed way forward. If that was in prospect, then we would do everything we could to comply with that. We had to get the meeting over and done with first, however.
Asked about John Reid’s contribution to the negotiations, and did the Prime Minister ask Dr. Reid to “lend a hand”, the PMOS replied that all sorts of people had all sorts of contacts, but the PMOS said that he would not go down that road.
Put that Peter Hain had said that today was the absolute deadline, but what would happen if it did get extended to May, the PMOS replied that what was important was that process and outcome were distinguished from each other. The deadline was always designed to get us to the point where there was a power sharing executive. If there was a first meeting between Ian Paisley, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuiness, then that was an outcome that few people would have predicted. If there was an agreement about the way forward, and if that was achievable after today’s meeting, then that superseded everything. What we had to do, however, was take it step by step; we had to have the meeting and see what its outcome was before deciding a way forward.
Iran
Asked for any update from Tehran and the kidnapped personnel, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister spoke very carefully yesterday, (and the PMOS hoped that people understood why the Prime Minister was being very careful when he intervened, and stressed that he had to be very careful about what he said). The main thing about what the Prime Minister said that had to be underlined was that we were utterly confident that the personnel who had been detained were in Iraqi waters. We also would underline the call for their immediate release and noted with gratitude that that had been backed by the international community, including the EU. The PMOS said that he hoped people would understand why we would be restrained in what we said.
Asked why we were so “utterly confident”, the PMOS said that he could not comment, except to say that we were. We had examined again and again the evidence, and that was the case.
Asked if we had received any indication as to where the people were being detained, and did they have any consular access, the PMOS said that he was not going to give a running commentary. The PMOS added that there were diplomatic discussions going on all the time, and people should be aware that the Foreign Secretary had spoken to the Iranian Foreign Minister and we remained in constant contact.
Asked if the Prime Minister believed that the seizure was linked to the wider diplomatic picture over nuclear issues, the PMOS replied that this was a matter on its own. It should therefore be treated on its own, and that was how we were approaching it.
Put that there were newspaper reports that the seizure was pre-planned by Iran, the PMOS said again that he was not going to give a commentary on either what people thought about it all or how it came about. It was a matter that should be dealt with on its own merits. These personnel were in Iraqi waters, and therefore, they should be released.
Asked at what stage would the Prime Minister begin to “ratchet” up British pressure, and what would happen if they were not released soon, the PMOS said that we had to recognise that the pressure was not just coming from this country, but rather, it was coming from the international community as well. That was very important. It was also very important that our EU partners were solid in their support of our case. We had to deal with this day by day.
Asked if the Prime Minister would get personally involved at this stage, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister was constantly being updated on this, but the PMOS said again that he hoped people would understand if we did not give an hour by hour commentary.
Asked if it was right that the British Government’s anger was sent in a way that the Foreign Secretary did not bother to come down from her constituency to meet with the Iranian Ambassador on Friday, the PMOS replied that what was important was that she had spoken to her opposite number. People were fully aware of our position.
Asked if we had received any GPS co-ordinates from the Iranians, the PMOS said again that there was no doubt in our minds at all that they were in Iraqi waters.
Asked if there were any plans for a statement to Parliament, the PMOS replied that what was important was that we treated this in a way which made sure that the Iranian Government was fully aware of our position, but that we did not do so in a way which was detrimental to those involved.
Police Inquiry
No
Asked if it was true that the Prime Minister had told police that he would resign if he was interviewed under caution, the PMOS replied that the story over the weekend regarding this was nonsense.
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