The following is the text of Senator George Mitchell's introductory statement when he took the chair at a plenary session of the multi party talks early this morning:
ON behalf of my colleagues, General de Chastelain and Prime Minister Holkeri, I thank you.
We are honoured by the invitation to participate in these historic proceedings. We commend Prime Ministers Major and Bruton, Secretary of State Mayhew and Minister for Foreign Affairs Spring, those of you here today and the many others across Northern Ireland who have contributed to this process.
Our prior participation in this process has brought us into extensive contact with the people of Northern Ireland. We have come to know and admire them.
We assure you that we are motivated solely by a desire to be of help to you and to them. We will meet our responsibilities in a totally fair and impartial manner.
We recognise that it is you who must make the decisions on which these proceedings will advance. We will do all we appropriately can to be of assistance.
But ultimately agreement in these negotiations is a matter for the participants. That is why the success of these proceedings rests on your shoulders and in your hearts.
That is an immense responsibility.
It is also a great and noble challenge. I hope that everyone involved can rise to meet that challenge. As we said in the report we submitted to the Governments on January 24th, in words we believe are even more relevant today.
"The risk may seem high but the reward is great a future of peace equality and prosperity for all the people of Northern Ireland."
I have devoted much of my time and effort over the past year and a half to encouraging trade with and investment in Northern Ireland. I have met with many of you, some many times, and many others all across Northern Ireland.
That experience has provided me with first hand knowledge of the importance of peace to economic growth and the creation of jobs. It has also left me with the conviction that there is enormous potential in Northern Ireland for economic growth and broadly shared prosperity.
We have no interest no interest whatever other than to help make possible that promising future for Northern Ireland. We pledge our total commitment to that effort.