The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1996Prime Minister (1990-1997)

Mr Major’s Doorstep Interview Outside the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – 26 April 1996

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Below is the text of Mr Major’s doorstep interview outside the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford on 26th April 1996.

PRIME MINISTER:

I am delighted at the deal that looks as though it has been reached. It looks like a temporary deal. There is clearly going to be a lot more needing to be done to make sure that it is permanent. But it looks like a ceasefire with immediate effect. It looks like there is going to be some monitoring and I think that is a very good base upon which to build something more permanent. So I think it is extremely good news.

QUESTION:

What can be done for a permanent deal then?

PRIME MINISTER:

I think they will need to see how one can provide a more permanent mechanism for the prevention of the Kaduscha attacks from Lebanon into Israel and I think as they move towards a Middle East settlement they will need also to look at the question of Israel removing from Southern Lebanon. They are both matters I think that will need to be addressed at some stage before we get a permanent settlement.

QUESTION:

What influence, Prime Minister, are you prepared to put on the Americans who have considerable influence on the Israelis to encourage them to withdraw from the [indistinct] zone?

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, we need a wider Middle East settlement. I think if one looks at this as a patchwork and expects odd things to be determined in isolation, then I think one may well look in vain. That is why I say this is a temporary settlement and I think one will need to look at a much wider scene before we get a permanent settlement. But as far as the British influence is concerned we have been exercising what influence we have with both sides for quite a long time towards a settlement, but clearly the Americans have been the largest single influence. They have taken a leading role in seeking a Middle East settlement. But both Britain itself and of course as part of the European Union have played their own part in seeking a settlement as well.