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DATE=7/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251759
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (S/L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  BRITAIN'S GOVERNMENT IS OFFERING TO AMEND A BILL  
TRANSFERRING HOME RULE FROM LONDON TO BELFAST.  THE AMENDMENT 
COULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR ULSTER UNIONISTS TO ACCEPT SHARING POWER
WITH SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE PARAMILITARY IRISH 
REPUBLICAN ARMY.  CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM 
LONDON THE ACTIONS COME AS NORTHERN IRELAND'S UNIONISTS GET SET 
TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE TIMETABLE FOR DEVOLUTION -- THE 
TRANSFER OF POWER -- AND WEAPONS SURRENDER, OR "DECOMMISSIONING."
TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR TOLD PARLIAMENT THE AMENDMENTS 
INCLUDE A SPECIFIC TIMETABLE FOR PARAMILITARY DISARMAMENT, WHICH 
HAS BLOCKED FORMATION OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S ALL-PARTY EXECUTIVE 
BODY. 
                        ///BLAIR ACT ///
         WE WILL THEREFORE BRING FORWARD FURTHER AMENDMENTS IN AN
         EFFORT TO PROVIDE A BASIS UPON WHICH ALL PEOPLE CAN 
         AGREE THIS LAST STEP IN THE ... AGREEMENT.  IF THEY CAN,
         THEN NORTHERN IRELAND FACES THE PROSPECT FOR THE FIRST 
         TIME IN A GENERATION OF A SECURE AND STABLE AND PEACEFUL
         FUTURE.
                          /// END ACT ///
THE AMENDMENTS ALSO WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO 
DEFAULT ON DECOMMISSIONING OR ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THE TRANSFER OF
HOME RULE POWERS TO NORTHERN IRELAND. 
                 /// CUT HERE FOR SHORT C-R ////
UNIONISTS HAVE SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE PLAN FOR THREATENING THE 
WHOLE EXECUTIVE WITH SUSPENSION IF THE I-R-A DOES NOT DISARM -- 
RATHER THAN TARGETING SINN FEIN. 
ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE 
LAST-MINUTE MANEUVER BY THE BLAIR GOVERNMENT AND STILL CONSIDERS 
THE PLAN DEEPLY FLAWED.  
                       ///TRIMBLE ACT /// 
         THE FACT THAT THE (BRITISH) GOVERNMENT IS BRINGING 
         FORWARD AMENDMENTS A MATTER OF HOURS FROM ITS OWN 
         SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE IS A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW THIS 
         SCHEME WAS  NOT  PROPERLY THOUGHT THROUGH.
                        /// END ACT ///. 
MR. TRIMBLE'S ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY IS MEETING IN BELFAST TO GIVE
ITS VERDICT ON THE PLAN.  
THE TIMETABLE NOW CALLS FOR THE ALL-PARTY EXECUTIVE TO BE NAMED 
ON THURSDAY, WITH THE TRANSFER OF HOME RULE POWERS COMPLETED BY 
SUNDAY, AND DISARMAMENT TO BEGIN A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF/KL
14-Jul-99 11:44 AM EDT (1544 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.