DATE=7/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251309
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND UPDATE (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN NORTHERN IRELAND, CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT NEGOTIATORS
ARE BACK AT THE BARGAINING TABLE ALONG WITH THE BRITISH AND IRISH
PRIME MINISTERS. THEY ARE TRYING TO END AN IMPASSE OVER
DEMILITARIZING THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY PARA-MILITARIES, WHICH
IS BLOCKING FORMATION OF A POWER-SHARING EXECUTIVE. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THAT THE SEARCH
FOR A COMPROMISE FOCUSES ON THE TIMING OF DISARMAMENT.
TEXT: THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS SOUNDED UPBEAT AS
THEY RETURNED TO THE NEGOTIATIONS. PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR
TALKED OF HUGE PROGRESS AND A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT ON DISARMAMENT BY
SINN FEIN -- THE I-R-A'S POLITICAL WING.
/// BLAIR ACT ///
WHERE THE ISSUE IS IS VERY SIMPLE. SOME SAY THERE'S GOT
TO BE DECOMMISSIONING AND THEN THE EXECUTIVE. AND
OTHERS SAY THERE'S GOT TO BE THE EXECUTIVE AND THEN
DECOMMISSIONING.
/// END ACT ///
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT NEGOTIATORS SOUNDED MUCH MORE HARD-LINE
AND PESSIMISTIC ABOUT FINDING A WORKABLE COMPROMISE.
PROTESTANT FIRST MINISTER DAVID TRIMBLE INSISTED HE HAS NOT YET
RECEIVED A FIRM COMMITMENT FROM THE REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT ON
DECOMMISSIONING. AND HE WON'T LET SINN FEIN SHARE POWER IN A
PEACE GOVERNMENT UNTIL HE DOES.
/// TRIMBLE ACT //
THERE HAS TO BE A COMMITMENT FROM THE I-R-A, FROM THEIR
WHOLE REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT IN A CREDIBLE MANNER BEFORE
WE'RE EVEN IN A POSITION TO DEAL WITH ISSUES SUCH AS
TIMING AND SEQUENCING.
/// END ACT ///
MR TRIMBLE TOLD REPORTERS IN BELFAST HIS SIDE IS BRINGING NEW
PROPOSALS TO THE TABLE, WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS THE GERM OF A
SOLUTION.
THAT BROUGHT AN ANGRY RESPONSE FROM SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS,
WHO ACCUSED MR TRIMBLE OF ADDING LAST-MINUTE CONDITIONS NOT
MANDATED BY THE 1998 PEACE AGREEMENT.
HE ALSO DISPUTED MR TRIMBLE'S CLAIMS NOT TO HAVE SEEN SINN
FEIN'S PROPOSALS ON DISARMAMENT.
/// ADAMS ACT ///
AS FAR AS SINN FEIN IS CONCERNED, WE HAVE MOVED OUR
POSITION. THAT HAS NOT ONLY BEEN REJECTED BUT IT HAS
BEEN MISREPRESENTED. SO AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED, NOW
WE ARE TO LISTEN TO OTHERS TO SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE
PREPARED TO DO IN THIS SITUATION.
/// END ACT ///
NEGOTIATIONS HAVE ALREADY RUN MORE THAN 50 HOURS WITH NO HINT
HOW MUCH MORE IT WILL TAKE TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/GE/KL
01-Jul-99 9:01 AM EDT (1301 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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