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<p>First, I would like to make clear my admiration for the dedication, professionalism
and courage shown by soldiers and police officers in Northern Ireland throughout the
Troubles. As we made clear in our 2015 Northern Ireland manifesto, this Government
will never forget the debt of gratitude we owe them and will never accept any form
of equivalence between those who upheld democracy and the rule of law, and those who
engaged in terrorism or other forms of paramilitary activity.</p><p> </p><p>This Government
understands the concept of parity of esteem, as set out in the 1998 Belfast Agreement,
as placing a general obligation on the UK Government to govern in the interests of
the whole community and to treat people of different traditions fairly and with equal
respect. In the Agreement it is clearly expressed and defined in relation to people
living in Northern Ireland. As a general obligation there is no definition of particular
circumstances in which it does or does not apply.</p><p> </p><p>The vast majority
of the more than 250,000 men and women who served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary
and the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland during the Troubles carried out their duties
with exemplary professionalism. However, everyone is equal under the law and, where
there is evidence of wrongdoing, this should be investigated.</p><p> </p><p>The current
mechanisms for investigating the past do not reflect that 90 per cent of deaths in
the Troubles were caused by terrorists and are disproportionately focussed on the
actions of soldiers and police. That is why this Government supports the full and
faithful implementation of the Stormont House Agreement to bring a new, balanced,
proportionate and fair approach to dealing with Northern Ireland’s past.</p><p> </p>
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