Article 7 (c) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement records the position of the two Governments "that there is a need for a programme of special measures in Northern Ireland to improve relations between the security forces and the community, with the object in particular of making the security forces readily accepted by the nationalist community".
The Hillsborough Communiqué, which accompanied the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, expressed the intention of the two Governments to concentrate at the initial meetings of the Conference on relations between the security forces and the nationalist community in Northern Ireland. This has remained a priority area of work for the conference. At its meeting in March 1988 it decided to give added impetus to work in this area. Accordingly, and in addition to meetings of the Conference, a group of high level officials has been charged with the task of ensuring that the ongoing work at official level has the necessary focus and direction.
The Government remain determined to ensure that the mechanisms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement will continue to address fully the unresolved problems of harassment, ill-treatment and the other difficulties which adversely affect the rights, security and welfare of the nationalist community in Northern Ireland and which hamper the development of good relations between the security forces and the community.