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DATE=7/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251969
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, TONY BLAIR, MET (TUESDAY) WITH 
HIS IRISH COUNTERPART IN ANOTHER EFFORT TO BREAK THE IMPASSE IN 
NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS.  THE MEETING CAME AS UNIONIST 
AND REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS IN THE BRITISH PROVINCE CONTINUE TO 
BLAME EACH OTHER FOR THE DEADLOCK.  CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN 
REPORTS FORMER U-S SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL, WHO HELPED REACH THE 
1998 PEACE AGREEMENT, WILL FACILITATE A REVIEW OF THE PROBLEMS.
TEXT:  THE FOCUS NOW IS GETTING NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS 
BACK ON TRACK.  FORMER U-S SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL WILL TAKE 
CHARGE OF A FULL REVIEW OF THE ISSUES IN DISPUTE -- NOTABLY THE 
TIMING OF THE DISARMAMENT OF "IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY" 
PARAMILITARIES AND THE FORMATION OF A POWER-SHARING GOVERNMENT.
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR STRESSES THAT THE REVIEW WILL COVER ONLY THE
KEY DISPUTE AND  NOT  THE WHOLE "GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT". 
                        /// BLAIR ACT ///
         THE REVIEW IS OF LIMITED FOCUS, LIMITED TO DETERMINING 
         HOW THOSE AGREED PRINCIPLES, WHICH EVERYONE HAS 
         ACCEPTED, WILL THEN CARRY FORWARD.
                         /// END ACT ///
FORMER SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL WILL LAUNCH THE REVIEW PROCESS 
THIS WEEK WITH THE "ULSTER UNIONISTS" AND "SINN FEIN", THE 
POLITICAL WING OF "THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY".  
MR. MITCHELL SAYS HE WILL RELY ON THE STRATEGY HE USED FOR 
MEDIATING THE 1998 "GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT".
                      /// MITCHELL ACT /// 
         THE VERY FIRST DAY OF THE NEGOTIATIONS IN JUNE OF 1996, 
         I TOLD THE PARTICIPANTS THAT I WAS THERE  NOT  TO 
         PREPARE AN AGREEMENT BUT TO ASSIST THEM  PREPARING THEIR
         AGREEMENT.  AND I THINK IN THE END THE SAME THING IS 
         TRUE NOW.  IT IS THE POLITICAL LEADERS ACTING ON BEHALF 
         OF THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND WHO MUST REACH THEIR 
         WAY FORWARD.
                         /// END ACT ///
THE PEACE PROCESS HAS STALLED OVER THE ISSUE OF DISARMAMENT. 
ULSTER UNIONISTS INSIST THE I-R-A MUST START HANDING OVER WEAPONS
BEFORE SINN FEIN JOINS THE GOVERNING EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.  SINN 
FEIN INSISTS THE PEACE AGREEMENT HAS  NO  SUCH PRECONDITION.  
LAST WEEK, THE "ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY" REFUSED TO NOMINATE 
MINISTERS FOR A POWER-SHARING CABINET, WHICH PREVENTED LONDON 
FROM TRANSFERRING HOME RULE POWERS TO BELFAST. 
MR. MITCHELL IS DUE TO MEET WITH ALL THE PARTIES AT LEAST ONCE 
BEFORE THE END OF JULY, AND THEN RESUME THE REVIEW PROCESS IN 
SEPTEMBER.   (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF/RAE
20-Jul-99 1:38 PM EDT (1738 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.