DATE=4/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248028
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN BELFAST, CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT LEADERS ARE BACK AT
THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, TRYING TO BREAK AN IMPASSE OVER
"DECOMMISSIONING" -- THE SURRENDER OF WEAPONS BY NORTHERN
IRELAND'S PARAMILITARY GROUPS. THE DISPUTE HAS STALLED THE
INSTALLATION OF THE PROVINCE'S NEW GOVERNING CABINET.
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON.
TEXT: BOTH SIDES ARE SOUNDING PESSIMISTIC ABOUT A BREAKTHROUGH.
SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE PARAMILITARY IRISH
REPUBLICAN ARMY, HAS FORMALLY REJECTED A COMPROMISE PROPOSAL PUT
FORTH BY THE IRISH AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTERS TWO WEEKS AGO.
THE PLAN SET OUT A TIMETABLE FOR APPOINTING NORTHERN IRELAND'S
NEW CABINET MINISTERS, IF THE I-R-A TURNS IN SOME WEAPONS WITHIN
A MONTH. BUT SINN FEIN SAYS IT CANNOT FORCE THE I-R-A TO DO
THAT.
SINN FEIN CHAIRMAN MITCHELL MCLAUGHLIN INSISTS WHAT'S COME TO
BE CALLED THE GOOD FRIDAY PEACE AGREEMENT SET NO PRECONDITIONS
FOR SINN FEIN JOINING THE NORTHERN IRELAND GOVERNMENT. HE SAYS
THE COMPROMISE PROPOSAL WOULD REWRITE THE PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED
LAST YEAR.
PROTESTANT FIRST MINISTER DAVID TRIMBLE REFUSES TO LET SINN FEIN
TAKE (TWO) POSTS IN THE NEW CABINET UNTIL THE I-R-A STARTS
DISARMING.
THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS BOTH JOINED THE LAST ROUND
OF MARATHON TALKS TWO WEEKS AGO IN BELFAST. THEY SAY THEY ARE
READY TO TAKE PART IN FURTHER MEETINGS, IF THERE ARE SIGNS OF
PROGRESS.
THE DEADLOCK HAS HELD UP FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF LAST YEAR'S PEACE
PLAN, WHICH ENDED THREE DECADES OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE. BRITAIN
WAS DUE TO TRANSFER HOME-RULE POWERS TO THE NEW "PEACE"
GOVERNMENT LAST MONTH, BUT HAD TO POSTPONE THAT MOVE BECAUSE NO
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN SET UP YET. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF/WTW
13-Apr-99 3:03 PM EDT (1903 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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