DATE=11/26/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256553
BYLINE=LOURDES NAVARRO
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Leader of the pro-British Ulster Unionist
party, David Trimble, is predicting victory in a key
vote set to take place in Northern Ireland Saturday.
Mr. Trimble has been lobbying his party followers to
support the latest peace package negotiated by U-S
mediator George Mitchell. But, despite worries that
peace in the troubled province hangs in the balance,
Lourdes Navarro reports from London that the outcome
is still far from certain.
TEXT: The vote will be put to the 858-member Ulster
Unionist Council - the group of party leaders who must
sanction any changes in the policy of Northern
Ireland's biggest party. And the result will determine
whether or not a joint Protestant and Catholic
government will be elected two days later with Britain
handing over power to it in early December.
For that to happen, though, George Mitchell's plan
requires the Ulster Unionists to accept sharing power
with Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish
Republican Army (I-R-A), before the I-R-A disarms.
Until now, the protestant Ulster Unionists have
refused to agree to be in a government with a party
that is tied to an armed group.
/// OPT /// Mr. Mitchell mediated talks that led to
last year's accord to end three decades of deadly
violence in Northern Ireland. /// END OPT ///
Despite Mr. Trimble's optimism, lobbying against the
Mitchell proposal by Protestant hard-liners has
increased. The opponents say they distrust the I-R-A's
intentions to hand in weapons after their party is in
government.
/// OPT /// A survey Friday by the British newspaper,
"The Daily Telegraph," of council members says the
party is split down the middle and the vote will be
close. /// END OPT ///
But with leader Trimble behind the deal, many
political analysts in Northern Ireland say they expect
that a majority in the council will vote `yes.'
///OPT/// If they don't, Mr. Trimble's leadership of
his party and the latest attempt at peace in Northern
Ireland could well be at risk. ///OPT ENDS/// (Signed)
NEB/LN/GE/JO
26-Nov-1999 09:35 AM EDT (26-Nov-1999 1435 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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