Successive British governments have sought final and complete decommissioning by the IRA for over 10 years. Failure to deliver it had become a major impediment to moving forward the peace process. Today it is finally accomplished. And we have made an important step in the transition from conflict to peace in Northern Ireland.

There was no real disagreement as to subsistence, ... It was essential that the treaty be upheld in full, that there was no question whatever of going against any provision of the treaty, and in particular that Mr. Duisenberg having made it clear that he did not desire to serve the full term of eight years, that the decision as to when he goes is his and his decision alone.

The threat today is not that of the 1930s. It's not big powers going to war with each other. The ravages which fundamentalist political ideology inflicted on the 20th century are memories. The Cold war is over. Europe is at peace, if not always diplomatically.

Power without principle is barren, but principle without power is futile. This is a party of government, and I will lead it as a party of government.

I can only go one way. I've not got a reverse gear.

By nature, I am a unifier. I am a builder of consensus. I don't believe in sloppy compromise. But I do believe in bringing people together.