DATE=7/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251806
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND, UPDATE (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS IS IN SHAMBLES AFTER
"ULSTER UNIONISTS" REFUSED TO NOMINATE MINISTERS FOR AN ALL-PARTY
GOVERNMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED BRITAIN TO TRANSFER
HOME-RULE POWERS TO BELFAST. // OPT // PRO-BRITISH UNIONISTS
WANT THE PROVINCE TO REMAIN PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND ARE
PREDOMINATELY PROTESTANT. THE REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING THE IRISH
REPUBLICAN ARMY, WANT THE REGION TO JOIN IRELAND AND ARE
PREDOMINATELY CATHOLIC. // END OPT // THE UNIONISTS REFUSED TO
SHARE POWER WITH THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY'S (I-R-A) POLITICAL
WING. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS ON THE LATEST
DEVELOPMENTS FROM LONDON.
TEXT: WHEN NORTHERN IRELAND'S ASSEMBLY MET (THURSDAY) THE
BENCHES EARMARKED FOR THE "ULSTER UNIONISTS" WERE EMPTY.
FIFTEEN-MINUTES BEFORE, UNIONIST LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE HAD
CONFIRMED HIS PARTY WOULD BOYCOTT THE NOMINATION PROCESS, HAVING
ALREADY REJECTED THE BRITISH-IRISH TIMETABLE FOR DEVOLUTION AND
DECOMMISSIONING . MR TRIMBLE CALLED THE PLAN SERIOUSLY FLAWED.
/// TRIMBLE ACT ///
THOSE DIFFICULTIES RELATE TO THE ABSENCE OF COMMITMENT
BY VARIOUS PARTIES, SPECIFICALLY A COMMITMENT BY "SINN
FEIN / I-R-A" TO CARRY OUT THEIR OBLIGATION TO
DECOMMISSION.
/// END ACT ///
THE CAREFULLY SEQUENCED PLAN PROPOSED BY THE BRITISH AND IRISH
PRIME MINISTERS WOULD HAVE NAMED THE ALL-PARTY EXECUTIVE NOW SO
THAT HOME RULE POWERS WOULD BE TRANSFERRED BY SUNDAY, WITH I-R-A
DISARMING TO START SOON AFTER.
THE OTHER UNIONIST PARTY REFUSED TO NAME ANY MINISTERS, BUT BOTH
REPUBLICAN PARTIES DID. THE EXECUTIVE HAD TO BE SUSPENDED FOR
NOT REPRESENTING A CROSS-SECTION OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S FACTIONS.
AN ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER, SEAMUS MALLON -- A
REPUBLICAN -- THEN STUNNED THE ASSEMBLY WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HIS
RESIGNATION.
/// MALLON ACT ///
IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH THIS
AGREEMENT COULD BE SAVED WAS ACTUALLY FOR ME TO RESIGN
AND WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF MY RESIGNATION FOR A NUMBER
OF REASONS, NOT LEAST THE FACT THAT IF A REVIEW IS GOING
TO TAKE PLACE, IT MUST BE A SUBSTANTIAL REVIEW, A
CREDIBLE REVIEW AND NOT A DEVICE TO PARK (I.E. TO STOP)
THIS PROCESS.
/// END ACT ///
MR MALLON CALLED FOR UNIONIST FIRST MINISTER DAVID TRIMBLE TO
RESIGN TOO. HE SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE "ULSTER UNIONISTS'"
ABSENCE FROM THE ASSEMBLY AS AN INSULT TO THE PEACE PROCESS.
BRITAIN'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND, MARJORIE (MO)
MOWLAM, SAID IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN MUST NOW BE FULLY
REVIEWED.
/// OPT MOWLAM ACT ///
THE REALITY IS WE EITHER MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER OR WE DO
NOT MOVE AT ALL. TODAY IS A SETBACK. IT WOULD BE
FOOLISH TO DENY THAT, BUT IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE FOOLISH
TO CONCLUDE THAT THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT CANNOT
CONTINUE.
/// END OPT ACT ///
NORTHERN IRELAND'S RIVAL POLITICIANS WERE QUICK TO BLAME EACH
OTHER FOR THROWING THE PEACE PROCESS INTO DISARRAY.
// OPT // PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR CALLED FOR BOTH SIDES TO SET
ASIDE THEIR RECRIMINATIONS.
/// BLAIR ACT ///
PUT THEM BEHIND YOU AND GET TO WORK. WORK TOGETHER TO
BUILD THAT TRUST, OR IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT TRUST,
REMAIN INCAPABLE OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM BEFORE YOU.
/// END ACT ///
/// END OPT ///
THE DAY'S DRAMATIC EVENTS MADE IT CLEAR MORE TIME IS NEEDED TO
BRIDGE THE GAP AND GET THE PEACE PROCESS BACK ON TRACK. BUT
NOBODY IS WILLING TO SAY JUST HOW MUCH MORE TIME IT WILL TAKE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/GE/RAE
15-Jul-99 11:45 AM EDT (1545 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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