DATE=7/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251842
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A DAY AFTER NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS SUFFERED A
SERIOUS SETBACK, THE HEAD OF THE PROVINCE'S LARGEST PROTESTANT
PARTY SAYS THE SITUATION IS NOT AS BAD AS IT SEEMS. ON
THURSDAY THE PARTY BLOCKED FORMATION OF A PEACE CABINET, WHICH
PREVENTS THE TRANSFER OF HOME RULE POWERS TO BELFAST. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS BRITAIN'S SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR NORTHERN IRELAND HEADS TO BELFAST TO ASSESS THE SITUATION.
TEXT: PROTESTANT LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE -- ON THE DEFENSIVE --
INSISTS THAT BOYCOTTING THE FORMATION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
DID NOT DESTROY THE PEACE PROCESS. IN A COMMENTARY FOR 'THE
TIMES' NEWSPAPER FRIDAY MORNING AND AGAIN ON BRITISH RADIO, MR
TRIMBLE REFUSES WHAT HE CALLS ARTIFICIAL DEADLINES.
/// TRIMBLE ACT ///
THE IMPORTANT THING IS THE FUTURE AND GETTING THIS DONE
RIGHT INSTEAD OF THINGS DONE BY REFERENCE TO ARTIFICIAL
DEADLINES.
/// END ACT ///
UNIONISTS REFUSE TO SHARE POWER WITH THE REPUBLICAN SINN FEIN
PARTY BEFORE THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY PARAMILITARIES HAND OVER
THEIR WEAPONS. MR. TRIMBLE SAYS A FORMULA PROPOSED BY THE
BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS DID NOT OFFER ENOUGH GUARANTEES
DISARMING WOULD ACTUALLY START EITHER. MR. TRIMBLE SAYS HE
SUPPORTS A FULL REVIEW TO FIND A WAY TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE.
REPUBLICANS AND NATIONALISTS BLAME MR. TRIMBLE'S PARTY FOR THE
CRISIS. STILL, SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS SAYS EVERYONE IS
COMMITTED TO MAKING THE PEACE AGREEMENT WORK.
/// ADAMS ACT ///
IT WILL NOT BE ABOUT CONTEMPLATING FAILURE. IT WILL
NOT BE ABOUT LYING DOWN UNDER THE ONSLAUGHT OF THIS
AGREEMENT FROM WITHIN UNIONISM, IT WILL BE ABOUT GOING
FORWARD.
/// END ACT ///
THE QUESTION IS HOW?
BRITAIN'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND, MARJORIE (MO)
MOWLAM, FLIES TO BELFAST LATER IN THE DAY TO ASSESS THE
SITUATION.
THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS MEET NEXT TUESDAY TO LAUNCH
A FULL REVIEW. THEY HAVE ASKED FORMER U-S SENATOR GEORGE
MITCHELL TO JOIN THEM. HE WAS A KEY MEDIATOR IN THE MARATHON
NEGOTIATIONS THAT PRODUCED THE 1998 GOOD FRIDAY PEACE AGREEMENT
AND COULD PROVIDE A FRESH AND NEUTRAL LOOK AT HOW TO BREAK THE
CURRENT IMPASSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/KL
16-Jul-99 7:04 AM EDT (1104 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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