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DATE=7/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251345
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  NEGOTIATORS IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE  NOT  MANAGED TO 
BREAK THE IMPASSE OVER DISARMAMENT OF REPUBLICAN PARAMILITARIES. 
V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS THE BRITISH 
AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS NOW ARE EXPECTED TO ISSUE A STATEMENT 
SUMMING UP WHATEVER PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND WHAT COMES NEXT. 
TEXT:   FRUSTRATED CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT NEGOTIATORS HAVE BEEN 
ACCUSING EACH OTHER FOR THE FAILURE TO END THE DEADLOCK OVER 
DISARMING THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY.  FOUR DAYS OF MARATHON TALKS
HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS  OR  NONE AT ALL -- DEPENDING ON WHICH 
SIDE YOU TALK TO.
THE HEAD OF THE I-R-A'S POLITICAL WING SAYS THE PROTESTANT SIDE 
HAS REJECTED SINN FEIN'S GOODWILL GESTURE ON DECOMMISSIONING.  
PROTESTANT LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE SAYS HE IS STILL WAITING FOR A 
FIRM COMMITMENT FROM THE I-R-A ITSELF THAT IT WILL HAND OVER 
WEAPONS.  UNTIL THEN, HE REFUSES TO LET SINN FEIN JOIN THE 
ALL-PARTY PEACE GOVERNMENT.
THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS, WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE TALKS
SINCE MONDAY, ARE TO ISSUE A STATEMENT ON WHAT HAS BEEN 
ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.  
SINN FEIN LEADERS HAVE SAID THEY ARE STILL WILLING TO WORK WITH 
THE PROTESTANT UNIONISTS TO FIND A COMPROMISE, BUT MR. TRIMBLE 
TOLD BRITISH RADIO EARLY FRIDAY HE EXPECTED THE TALKS WILL BE 
SUSPENDED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.  
A FRUSTRATED PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAD CITED WHAT HE CALLED 
SEISMIC SHIFTS IN THE REPUBLICAN POSITION ON DISARMAMENT, BUT IT 
STILL IS NOT ENOUGH TO SATISFY MR. TRIMBLE'S PARTY.  HE MAINTAINS
THAT IF SINN FEIN INSISTS IT  CANNOT  SPEAK FOR THE I-R-A THEN IT
IS UP TO THE I-R-A TO MAKE A FIRM COMMITMENT TO START HANDING 
OVER ITS WEAPONS.  SINN FEIN HAS INSISTED THAT DISARMAMENT IS NOT
A PRE-CONDITION TO ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE ALL-PARTY EXECUTIVE.
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAYS IT IS A MATTER OF TIMING BUT SO FAR 
NOBODY IS WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON WHICH COMES FIRST -- GUNS OR 
GOVERNMENT.  (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
02-Jul-99 5:17 AM EDT (0917 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.