DATE=3/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246412
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE AGREEMENT IS STALLING OVER THE
ISSUE OF DISARMING PARAMILITARY GROUPS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT
LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS THE DISPUTE HAS FORCED BRITAIN
TO POSTPONE ITS HANDOVER OF HOME-RULE POWER TO THE NEW NORTHERN
IRELAND ASSEMBLY.
TEXT: THE PROTESTANT LEADER OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY,
DAVID TRIMBLE, MET FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR TUESDAY WITH THE HEAD OF
SINN FEIN -- THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY.
BOTH SIDES REPORT LITTLE PROGRESS IN RESOLVING THE DISPUTE OVER
DECOMMISSIONING. BUT THEY PROMISE TO MEET AGAIN.
MR. TRIMBLE REFUSES TO LET SINN FEIN JOIN NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEW
CABINET UNTIL THE PARAMILITARY GROUP IT REPRESENTS STARTS HANDING
IN ITS WEAPONS. SINN FEIN'S GERRY ADAMS SAYS THAT IS NOT A
PRE-CONDITION TO JOINING THE GOVERNMENT.
UNDER THE PEACE AGREEMENT, BRITAIN HAD AGREED TO TRANSFER
HOME-RULE POWERS TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK. BUT THE
MINISTER FOR NORTHERN IRELAND ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY THE HANDOVER
WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL APRIL SECOND, GOOD FRIDAY.
THE PEACE AGREEMENT -- ENDING 30 YEARS OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN
NORTHERN IRELAND -- WAS REACHED ON GOOD FRIDAY OF LAST YEAR. BUT
THE DECOMMISSIONING DISPUTE HAS BLOCKED PROGRESS ON THE
AGREEMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION.
MR. ADAMS SAYS THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT GIVES PARAMILITARY
GROUPS TWO YEARS TO TURN IN THEIR WEAPONS. MR. TRIMBLE SAYS THEY
MUST START NOW IF THEY WANT TO A PLACE IN THE NEW CABINET.
HARDLINE REPUBLICANS HAVE REFUSED TO TURN OVER ANY WEAPONS AND
MR. ADAMS SAYS HE IS TAKING SERIOUSLY DEATH THREATS FROM
REPUBLICAN EXTREMISTS WHO CONSIDER HIS ROLE IN THE PEACE PROCESS
A SELL-OUT. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
09-Mar-99 11:43 AM EST (1643 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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