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DATE=8/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237695
TITLE=BRITAIN/IRELAND (S/L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE IRISH AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTERS MET WEDNESDAY IN 
IRELAND AND PLEDGED TO COORDINATE THEIR FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISTS 
TRYING TO DISRUPT NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS.  THE MEETING 
COMES AFTER BOTH GOVERNMENTS DECIDED TO CALL EMERGENCY 
PARLIAMENTARY SESSIONS TO APPROVE TOUGH NEW ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS. 
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN HAS MORE FROM LONDON.
TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER BLAIR DISMISSES CRITICISM OF THE PROPOSED 
ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS AS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC AND INSISTS THEY WILL ONLY
TARGET EXTREMISTS WHO HE CALLS OUTCASTS TRYING TO WRECK THE PEACE
PROCESS. 
                          //BLAIR ACT//
         PROVIDED WE DO IT IN A MEASURED, CAREFUL TARGETED WAY, 
         THESE MEASURES, TOUGH THOUGH THEY ARE, ARE JUSTIFIED.
                           //END ACT//
THE MEASURES WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO ARREST SUSPECTED TERRORISTS 
ON THE EVIDENCE OF A SENIOR POLICE OFFICIAL, HOLD SUSPECTS LONGER
IN DETENTION AND PUNISH THEM FOR NOT COOPERATING DURING THEIR 
DETENTION.  ANOTHER PROPOSED MEASURE WILL CRACK DOWN ON THOSE WHO
USE THE UNITED KINGDOM TO CARRY OUT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES 
ELSEWHERE.
                    /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///
THE POLITICAL ARM OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, SINN FEIN, CALLS 
THE MEASURES OVERREACTION BUT PROTESTANT HARDLINERS SAY THEY 
DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH. 
THE DECISION TO TOUGHEN ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS CAME AFTER THE CAR 
BOMBING EARLIER THIS MONTH IN OMAGH, NORTHERN IRELAND, WHICH LEFT
28 DEAD AND MORE THAN 200 INJURED. 
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR DISCUSSED THE NEW SECURITY MEASURES WITH 
IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN.  THEY ALSO DISCUSSED THE NEXT 
STEPS IN THE PEACE PROCESS AS OUTLINED IN THE GOOD FRIDAY 
AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS SIGNED LAST APRIL.  MR. AHERN SAYS THE 
CONSENSUS GREW STRONGER AFTER THE OMAGH BOMBING TO TRY TO SPEED 
UP THE PROCESS. 
                         //AHERN ACT// 
         IF EVERYONE JUST STICKS RIGIDLY TO THEIR HISTORY OR 
         STATED POSITION, WE'LL NEVER DO IT.   BUT I THINK IN THE
         AGREEMENT THERE WERE COMPROMISES AND NOW WE NEED JUST A 
         BIT OF PROGRESS TO GET WHERE WE GET.  BUT WE'LL GET 
         THERE.
                          //END ACT// 
BOTH THE IRISH AND BRITISH PARLIAMENTS WILL HOLD EMERGENCY 
SESSIONS NEXT WEEK TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE NEW ANTI-TERRORISM 
LAWS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF
26-Aug-98 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.