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Full Text of John Hume's Statement
"I have been considering the suggestion that I be nominated as the agreed candidate for the Irish Presidency. I have given the proposal detailed consideration."I can think of no greater personal honour than to become President of Ireland as an agreed candidate and I am very grateful to those public figures who have indicated their support for the proposal, and to the very large number of people from all parts of the country and abroad who have written to encourage me. They gave me many good reasons why I should accept.
"However there are also good reasons why I cannot accept that great honour at this time. My adult life together with my colleagues in the SDLP has been devoted to resolving the very serious crisis in the North. It is now at a very crucial stage and therefore I feel it is my duty to stay with my colleagues in the SDLP and to continue to devote all our energies towards achieving a new and agreed Ireland based on a lasting settlement and a lasting peace. I have therefore decided to remain in my present position. It was a very difficult decision.
"I would also like to express my deep appreciation to my senior colleagues in the SDLP who in recognising the difficulty I had in making a decision made clear to me that they would fully support whatever decision I made."
