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DATE=6/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251289
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THE MIDNIGHT DEADLINE HAS PASSED AND
NO BREAKTHROUGH HAS BEEN REPORTED BUT CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT 
NEGOTIATORS ARE STILL TALKING.  AND THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME 
MINISTERS ARE STILL PUSHING FOR A COMPROMISE TO END THE DEADLOCK 
ON DECOMMISSIONING WHICH IS HOLDING UP FORMATION OF NORTHERN 
IRELAND'S PEACE GOVERNMENT. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS 
FROM LONDON. 
TEXT:  JUST BEFORE THE DEADLINE, PROTESTANT FIRST MINISTER DAVID 
TRIMBLE SAID HE WAS STILL WAITING TO HEAR OR SEE IN WRITING A 
FIRM COMMITMENT FROM SINN FEIN THAT THE I-R-A WOULD START HANDING
OVER ITS WEAPONS.  MR TRIMBLE REFUSES TO LET THE I-R-A'S 
POLITICAL WING TAKE A SEAT IN A PEACE GOVERNMENT UNTIL THE GROUP 
STARTS HANDING OVER ITS WEAPONS. 
SINN FEIN SAYS IT HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE PARA-MILITARIES AND 
INSISTS THAT DECOMMISSIONING IS NOT A PRE-CONDITION TO JOINING AN
ALL-PARTY EXECUTIVE.
BOTH SIDES WERE STILL SOUNDING HARDLINE LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT BUT 
NOBODY HAS WALKED AWAY FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS - WHICH NOW ARE 
EXPECTED TO LAST THROUGH THE NIGHT.   
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAD SET THE MIDNIGHT DEADLINE 
AND WARNED THERE WAS NO ALTERNATIVE TO RESOLVING THE DISPUTE.  HE
AND IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN ARE STILL AT IT, TRYING TO 
FIND A WORKABLE COMPROMISE. U-S PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS CALLED
THE LEADERS TO OFFER HIS HELP TOO. 
THE INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE ON DECOMMISSIONING IS TO PRESENT ITS 
REPORT IN THE NEXT HOURS TO THE TWO PRIME MINISTERS AND THE 
NEGOTIATORS. THE REPORT EVALUATES HOW SERIOUSLY BOTH SIDES ARE 
COMMITTED TO HANDING OVER THEIR WEAPONS AS REQUIRED BY THE 1998 
PEACE AGREEMENT.  THAT ASSESSMENT AND REACTION TO IT COULD HELP 
MOVE THE TALKS FORWARD. 
THE DISPUTE OVER DECOMMISSIONING HAS BLOCKED FORMATION OF AN 
ALL-PARTY EXECUTIVE IN BELFAST, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO OVERSEE 
NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE GOVERNMENT.  BRITAIN HAS HAD TO POSTPONE
THE TRANSFER OF HOME-RULE POWERS UNTIL THE CABINET IS SET UP.  
THE IMPASSE ON DEMILITARIZING THE PARA-MILITARIES HAS PUT THE 
PEACE AGREEMENT IN JEOPARDY.  THE SO-CALLED GOOD FRIDAY PACT HAS 
ENDED THREE DECADES OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/LK/GM
30-Jun-99 7:30 PM EDT (2330 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.