DATE=6/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250961
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A IRISH NATIONALIST CONVICTED OF TRYING TO KILL FORMER
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER HAS BEEN RELEASED EARLY
FROM AN IRISH JAIL. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN SAYS THE
RELEASE COMES AT A TIME WHEN EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO SAVE
NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS, WHICH HAS BEEN DEADLOCKED OVER
THE ISSUE OF DISARMING IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY MILITANTS.
TEXT: THE I-R-A BOMBER, PATRICK MAGEE, ALREADY HAD SERVED 14
YEARS OF EIGHT LIFE TERMS. HE WAS CONVICTED FOR THE 1984 BOMBING
OF A HOTEL IN BRIGHTON, ENGLAND WHERE FORMER PRIME MINISTER
THATCHER WAS ATTENDING THE ANNUAL CONSERVATIVE PARTY CONFERENCE.
FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE BLAST.
MR. MAGEE'S EARLY RELEASE FROM JAIL COINCIDES WITH LAST-DITCH
EFFORTS TO RESOLVE A DISPUTE OVER DISARMING THE I-R-A. THE
DEADLOCK OVER DEMILITARIZATION IS HOLDING UP THE FORMATION OF
NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE CABINET. BRITAIN HAS HAD TO POSTPONE
THE TRANSFER OF HOME RULE POWERS UNTIL A GOVERNMENT CAN BE SET UP
IN BELFAST.
NORTHERN IRELAND'S PROTESTANT FIRST MINISTER, DAVID TRIMBLE,
INSISTS THE I-R-A'S POLITICAL WING, SINN FEIN, CANNOT TAKE PART
IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT UNTIL THE I-R-A STARTS HANDING IN ITS
WEAPONS. SINN FEIN'S LEADERSHIP SAYS THE 1998 GOOD FRIDAY PEACE
AGREEMENT HAS NO SUCH PRECONDITIONS.
BOTH SIDES REJECTED A COMPROMISE PROPOSAL WORKED OUT TWO MONTHS
AGO BY THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS.
NOW, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR GIVES THE CATHOLIC AND
PROTESTANT NEGOTIATORS UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO WORK OUT
THEIR OWN COMPROMISE.
MR. BLAIR AND IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN SAY THEY HAVE
CANCELLED OTHER PLANS FOR THE NEXT WEEK SO THEY CAN JOIN
WHATEVER LAST-MINUTE NEGOTIATIONS IT WILL TAKE TO GET THE IRISH
PEACE PROCESS BACK ON TRACK. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH/KL
22-Jun-99 11:52 AM EDT (1552 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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