Downing Street Declaration

Statement, issued jointly by UK prime minister John Major and Irish premier Albert Reynolds on 15 December 1993, setting out general principles for holding all-party talks on securing peace in Northern Ireland. The Declaration was warmly welcomed by mainstream politicians in both the UK and the Republic of Ireland, but the reception by Northern Ireland parties was more guarded. However, after initial hesitation, republican and Loyalist cease-fires were declared in 1994 and an Ulster framework document, intended to guide the peace negotiations, was issued by the UK and Irish governments in February 1995.

The Declaration, which took its name from the fact that it was formally announced by the two prime ministers in Downing Street, London, reportedly went through 20 drafting stages before the final form was agreed.