DATE=2/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-259068
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Britain has suspended Northern Ireland's new
government only 72 days after giving it power to deal
with local. London acted after there was no
movement on the key issue of the handover of weapons
by paramilitary groups, and the new government was on
the verge of collapse. V-O-A correspondent Laurie
Kassman reports from London on the latest
developments.
TEXT: Britain's top official for Northern Ireland
Peter Mandelson says the issue of paramilitary
disarmament must be resolved before the assembly can
continue its work.
/// MANDELSON ACT ///
We've got to clear up this issue of
decommissioning once and for all. It has dogged
the process throughout. It has sapped confidence
in the institutions. And we really got to
resolve it once and for all.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Mandelson acknowledges that progress was made
toward resolving the dispute, but he says it was not
enough to stop suspension. A review of the peace
process is expected but it is not yet clear when or
how it will take place or how long it will last.
Just before the announcement, Sinn Fein issued an
appeal to consider a last-minute proposal that could
avert collapse of the assembly. Mr. Mandelson says
all proposals will be considered in the review.
Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Seamus
Mallon, a moderate Catholic leader, calls the
suspension a setback for peace.
/// MALLON ACT ///
What is relevant is that the institutions are up
and working for the people of Northern Ireland.
That is the key element. That is something that
should never have been put in jeopardy and, in
my view, should never have happened.
/// END ACT ///
Unionists and Nationalists are blaming each other for
the latest crisis and complaining of a lack of trust
from both sides.
Protestant leader David Trimble, who also heads the
power-sharing council, sparked the crisis when he
threatened to resign because the I-R-A had not made
any concrete gestures toward disarmament.
/// TRIMBLE ACT ///
I believe that private armies must end. I
believe and know that the people of Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. And peace
and private armies are not compatible.
/// END ACT///
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams complains that
Mandelson's actions were provoked by Mr. Trimble's
threat to resign and nothing more. He calls the
British official's actions bizarre and inexplicable.
/// ADAMS ACT ///
The British Secretary of State has signed a
paper to collapse the institutions here. That
he has done so in the knowledge that there was a
major breakthrough on this issue, I can consider
that he did so on the basis of a threat by the
Ulster Unionist party.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Adams has argued that the 1998 Good Friday Peace
Agreement only sets May as the deadline for
disarmament. Mr. Trimble has insisted the I-R-A start
handing over weapons sooner. (Signed)
NEB/LMK/GE/LTD/KL
11-Feb-2000 14:42 PM EDT (11-Feb-2000 1942 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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