DATE=5/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248969
TITLE=SINN FEIN / MCGUINNESS (L-O)
BYLINE=CANDACE WILLIAMS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A LEADING CATHOLIC POLITICIAN FROM NORTHERN IRELAND WARNS
THE PROVINCE'S STALLED PEACE PROCESS IS IN DANGER OF FAILING
UNLESS STEPS ARE TAKEN TO SALVAGE THE EFFORT. MARTIN MCGUINNESS,
THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY'S POLITICAL
WING, SINN FEIN, MADE THE COMMENT TUESDAY IN WASHINGTON. V-O-A'S
CANDACE WILLIAMS REPORTS.
TEXT: SINN FEIN NEGOTIATOR MARTIN MCGUINNESS WAS FLANKED BY
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AS HE WARNED THAT THE GOOD FRIDAY
PEACE ACCORD ENDING CIVIL STRIFE IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS NOT BEING
FULLY IMPLEMENTED. THE AGREEMENT WAS CONCLUDED ON APRIL 10TH OF
LAST YEAR, TO END THREE DECADES OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE BETWEEN
PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS IN THE BRITISH-RULED PROVINCE.
BUT A DISPUTE OVER GUERRILLA DISARMAMENT THREATENS TO DERAIL THE
PEACE PROCESS. PRO-BRITISH UNIONIST POLITICIANS -- LED BY DAVID
TRIMBLE -- REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN A POWER-SHARING COUNCIL WITH
THE CATHOLIC SINN FEIN UNLESS THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY
SURRENDERS WEAPONS FROM ITS WAR AGAINST BRITISH RULE. BUT THE
I-R-A REFUSES TO DISARM AND MR. MCGUINNESS SAYS A WEAPONS
HANDOVER WAS NOT A PRECONDITION OF LAST YEAR'S GOOD FRIDAY
ACCORD.
// MCGUINNESS ACT//
LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT SAYS
IN RELATION TO DECOMMISSIONING. IT SAYS THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY AND BRING THIS ABOUT, LIES NOT
WITH SINN FEIN, BUT LIES WITH ALL THE PARTICIPANTS, AND
WE ARE ONLY ONE OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS.
//END ACT//
NATIONALIST SINN FEIN POLITICIANS SAY THE APRIL 1998 AGREEMENT
MERELY CALLS FOR DISARMAMENT BY THE YEAR 2000.
NR. MCGUINNESS SAYS HE IS WORRIED THE AGREEMENT WILL FAIL IF ITS
TERMS ARE NOT FOLLOWED -- AND PLANS TO RELAY THIS WARNING TO
TOP U-S OFFICIALS.
//2ND MCGUINNESS ACT//
I WILL BE TELLING THE WHITE HOUSE THAT I BELIEVE THAT
THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT IS ON A LIFE SUPPORT MACHINE,
THAT DRASTIC ACTION IS REQUIRED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION,
THAT THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY ON EVERYBODY, BUT
PARTICULARLY ON THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS TO
IMPLEMENT THE TERMS OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT AS
NEGOTIATED LAST YEAR. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PARTICULAR
RESPONSIBILITY ON THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR.
I BELIEVE HE HAS A KEY ROLE TO PLAY.
//END ACT//
//OPT// MR. MCGUINNESS PRAISED THE UNITED STATES FOR ITS ROLE IN
TRYING TO SECURE PEACE IN THE PROVINCE. PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS
MADE THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS ONE OF HIS KEY FOREIGN
POLICY OBJECTIVES. BUT THE SINN FEIN NEGOTIATOR SAYS THE
PROBLEMS OF NORTHERN IRELAND SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED BECAUSE
OF OTHER PRESSING WORLD ISSUES, SUCH AS THE KOSOVO CRISIS. //END
OPT//
MR. MCGUINNESS WILL BE IN LONDON THURSDAY, WHERE BRITISH PRIME
MINISTER TONY BLAIR, THE PRIME MINISTER OF IRELAND BERTIE AHERN
AND RIVAL NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICIANS WILL MEET TO DISCUSS THE
CURRENT IMPASSE. ALL THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE SAID THEY WILL STAY
AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE UNTIL THE DEADLOCK IS BROKEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/CAW/PHW/WFR
04-May-99 7:24 PM EDT (2324 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
