• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=7/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251722
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
INTRO:  BRITAIN'S PARLIAMENT TUESDAY DEBATED LEGISLATION THAT 
SETS THE TIMETABLE FOR THE TRANSFER OF HOME RULE POWERS TO 
NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE START OF  THE DISARMAMENT OF REPUBLICAN 
PARAMILITARIES THERE.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS
FROM LONDON.
TEXT:  BRITAIN'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND, 
MARJORIE  (MO) MOWLAM, TOLD THE HOUSE OF COMMONS (LOWER HOUSE OF 
PARLIAMENT) THE NEW LAW GIVES GUARANTEES FOR PROTESTANTS AND 
CATHOLICS WHO ARE STILL WARY OF EACH OTHER'S COMMITMENT TO THE 
1998 PEACE AGREEMENT.
                      ///  MOWLAM ACT  ///
         WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS GIVE GUARANTEES TO BOTH SIDES 
         THAT IF DECOMMISSIONING IS NOT HONORED, IF DEVOLUTION IS
         NOT HONORED, THEN THEY DO  NOT  HAVE TO SIT IN THE 
         EXECUTIVE WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT DECOMMISSIONED.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
THE BILL REQUIRES THE NOMINATION OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S 12-MEMBER 
EXECUTIVE ON THURSDAY AND THE TRANSFER OF HOME RULE POWERS BY 
SUNDAY.  BUT, IT ALSO CALLS FOR SUSPENDING THE EXECUTIVE IF THE 
IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY DOES  NOT  START DISARMING WITHIN DAYS OF 
THE TRANSFER OF HOME RULE POWERS.  
FOR PROTESTANT LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE, IT WAS STILL  NOT  GOOD 
ENOUGH.  HE WANTED THE BILL AMENDED TO  SPECIFICALLY THREATEN THE
I-R-A'S POLITICAL WING SINN FEIN WITH OUSTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE 
IF I-R-A DISARMAMENT DOES NOT START ON TIME.
                      ///  TRIMBLE ACT  ///
         THE FAIR RESPONSE IS OBVIOUS AND HAS BEEN MENTIONED. THE
         OFFENDING PARTY SHOULD BE REMOVED. IF THAT WERE IN THIS 
         BILL, IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO MAKING IT ACCEPTABLE BUT
         IT IS NOT.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
THE BILL GOES TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS FOR REVIEW ON WEDNESDAY 
BEFORE ITS FINAL APPROVAL THURSDAY IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.  
IT IS EXPECTED TO PASS WITHOUT PROBLEM BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS 
WHETHER NORTHERN IRELAND'S UNIONISTS AND REPUBLICANS CAN OVERCOME
THEIR DISTRUST OF EACH OTHER TO MAKE THE PLAN WORK 
MR TRIMBLE'S ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY HAS OPPOSED SHARING POWER WITH
SINN FEIN BEFORE I-R-A DISARMING BEGINS. HIS PARTY MEETS ON 
WEDNESDAY TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE PLAN OR REJECT IT. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH/KL
13-Jul-99 1:56 PM EDT (1756 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.