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DATE=4/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247518
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  NORTHERN IRELAND'S CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT NEGOTIATORS 
HAVE ADJOURNED THEIR TALKS UNTIL APRIL 13TH TO FINALIZE A 
COMPROMISE THAT WOULD BREAK THE IMPASSE OVER WEAPONS 
DECOMMISSIONING.   AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS 
FROM LONDON, THE DISPUTE HAS BEEN HOLDING UP BRITAIN'S TRANSFER 
OF HOME-RULE POWERS, WHICH WAS DUE ON FRIDAY. 
TEXT:  BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS BOTH SIDES NEED 
WHAT HE CALLS A PAUSE FOR REFLECTION BEFORE THEY GIVE THEIR FINAL
APPROVAL TO THE JOINT DECLARATION HE AND IRISH PRIME MINISTER 
BERTIE AHERN HAVE PUT FORTH.
THE PROPOSAL SETS A TIMETABLE FOR SETTING UP THE NEW NORTHERN 
IRELAND GOVERNMENT AND FOR A VOLUNTARY HANDOVER OF WEAPONS BY 
PARAMILITARY GROUPS ONE MONTH AFTER THAT.
                       ///  BLAIR ACT  ///
         A COLLECTIVE ACT OF RECONCILIATION WILL TAKE PLACE WHICH
         WILL SEE ARMS PUT BEYOND USE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS IN A 
         MANNER VERIFIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL, INDEPENDENT 
         COMMISSION ON DECOMMISSIONING.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
IF THE PROPOSED TIMETABLE GOES AHEAD WITHOUT PROBLEMS, THEN HOME 
RULE POWERS WILL BE FULLY TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN 
BELFAST.
THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC ARMY, SINN FEIN, HAS 
ISSUED A STATEMENT EXPRESSING ITS DISAPPOINTMENT THAT A FINAL 
AGREEMENT HAS  NOT  BEEN REACHED.  THE DISPUTE HAS FOCUSSED ON 
THE TIMING OF THE I-R-A DISARMING AND THE PARTICIPATION OF SINN 
FEIN IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT.
NORTHERN IRELAND'S PROTESTANT FIRST MINISTER, DAVID TRIMBLE, HAS 
REFUSED TO LET SINN FEIN JOIN THE NEW CABINET BEFORE THE I-R-A 
STARTS HANDING OVER ITS WEAPONS.  BUT SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY 
ADAMS INSISTS THE GOOD FRIDAY PEACE AGREEMENT HAS  NO  SUCH 
PRE-CONDITIONS.
MR. BLAIR SAYS THE NEW PROPOSAL HAS  NO  PRE-CONDITIONS BUT DOES 
CALL FOR GESTURES OF GOODWILL FROM BOTH SIDES. 
                       ///  BLAIR ACT  ///
         THE DECLARATION STATES TOO THAT WHILE THERE IS NO 
         PRE-CONDITION TO DECOMMISSION, THERE IS AN OBLIGATION TO
         DECOMMISSION.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
THE PROPOSAL NOW OFFERED BY THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS
SETS A TIMETABLE FOR APPOINTING NEW MINISTERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
AND TRANSFERRING SOME POWERS.  BUT IT DOES  NOT  AUTHORIZE A FULL
POWER  TRANSFER UNTIL THE I-R-A AND OTHER PARA-MILITARIES MAKE 
THEIR FIRST STEPS IN THE DECOMMISSIONING PROCESS.
BOTH SIDES ARE DUE BACK AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE ON APRIL 13TH TO
GIVE THEIR FINAL APPROVAL.  (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
01-Apr-99 10:53 AM EST (1553 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.