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DATE=11/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L)
NUMBER=2-256576
BYLINE=LOURDES NAVARRO
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Northern Ireland's largest Protestant party 
has voted to support a U-S mediated peace deal.  
Almost 60 percent of the Ulster Unionist council voted 
to accept the plan, which clears the way for a joint 
Catholic and Protestant government and fulfills the 
terms of the so-called Good Friday Accord of 1998.  
But, as Lourdes Navarro reports from London, Ulster 
Unionist leader David Trimble had to make some major 
concessions to win his party's support.
TEXT:  The vote was a triumph for Mr. Trimble.  The 
ratification of U-S mediator George Mitchell's plan 
means that by early next week the Protestant party 
that wants to keep British rule in Northern Ireland 
will join a power-sharing government with Sinn Fein, 
the political wing of the outlawed Irish Republican 
Army, or I-R-A.
But while the tense and emotional three-hour debate 
ended in victory, Mr. Trimble did have to make some 
concessions.  The Mitchell plan calls for the Ulster 
Unionists to take power with Sinn Fein, before the   
I-R-A begins to turn in its weapons. 
In order to get a majority on his side, Mr. Trimble 
had to postpone final ratification of the Mitchell 
plan until February.
But the provisional acceptance of the agreement means 
that a new Protestant and Catholic cabinet will be 
assembled early next week - the first time in a 
generation that the two sides have governed together.
Following the vote, Mr. Trimble said it is now up to 
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to see that the I-R-A 
delivers on its promise to begin turning in its 
weapons.
            /// ACT TRIMBLE ///
      We've done our bit and Mr. Adams, it's over to 
      you, We've jumped. You follow.
            /// END ACT ///
In return for Sinn Fein gaining a share of power, the 
I-R-A must is obligated to begin negotiations to 
disarm on the same day the new cabinet is assembled.
The peace process had been stalled until U-S diplomat 
George Mitchell returned to Northern Ireland and 
negotiated this latest deal.  Mr. Mitchell also helped 
broker the original Good Friday Accord in 1998. 
(signed)
NEB/LN/DW/JP
27-Nov-1999 11:26 AM EDT (27-Nov-1999 1626 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.