DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259530
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The top negotiator for the Irish Republican
Army's political wing, Sinn Fein, is blaming the
crisis in the Northern Ireland peace process on
Britain's decision to suspend the province's power-
sharing government - a move he denounces as "illegal."
Martin McGuinness, in Washington to meet with Clinton
administration officials Thursday, says Britain
prompted the deadlock by insisting the I-R-A
unilaterally disarm. Correspondent Deborah Tate
reports from the White House.
Text: Mr. McGuinness is criticizing Britain's
Secretary for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, for
suspending the 72-day-old joint government between
Catholics and Protestants earlier this month -- an
action taken despite a last-minute I-R-A proposal on
disarmament.
/// McGuinness Act ///
What the British have done is totally and
absolutely illegal.
/// End Act ///
Mr. McGuinness argues that that Mr. Mandelson had no
right to suspend a government that had the
overwhelming support of the people of Northern
Ireland, and says he is considering legal action.
/// McGuinness Act ///
If it was a self-determination on the behalf of
the people of Ireland, there is no telling us
that a British minister, at the stroke of a pen,
can do away with the people's rights and the
institutions that the people endorsed and set up
with their votes. From a legal point of view,
we are seeking legal advice.
/// End Act ///
The crisis was precipitated by an independent panel's
report released earlier this month saying the I-R-A
had not made sufficient efforts toward handing over
its weapons in its decades-long fight against British
rule of the province.
The finding had consequences for David Trimble, leader
of the Protestant Ulster Unionist Party, who was
serving as First Minister in the power-sharing
government. To get the support of his party for the
new coalition in the absence of any I-R-A disarmament
last November, Mr. Trimble pledged he would resign if
progress on the issue was not made by February 12th.
But Mr. Mandelson saw Mr. Trimble as key to keeping
the Ulster Unionists committed to the peace
settlement. And in an effort to head off his
resignation, he suspended the government February 11th.
After a meeting with National Security Advisor Sandy
Berger at the White House Wednesday, Mr. Mandelson
defended his decision, and in so doing, sought to ease
some of the concerns of Sinn Fein's McGuinness:
/// Mandelson Act ///
Bear in mind that what is suspended, is simply
on hold. Nothing has been destroyed, nothing
annulled. It will be as quick and simple to
reactivate the executive and institutions as it
was to put them on hold as long as we can get
people talking again and getting some renewed
agreement on how we can take forward all parts
of the Good Friday (peace) agreement.
/// End Act ///
Just days after the government was suspended, the I-R-
A withdrew its disarmament proposal.
Protestant leader Trimble, after talks with Mr. Berger
Monday, said a break in the deadlocked peace process
depends on the I-R-A resubmitting its plan.
But Sinn Fein's McGuinness argues the I-R-A is being
asked to disarm unilaterally -- saying there is little
pressure on Protestant paramilitary groups to hand
over weapons.
/// McGuinness Act ///
People are focused on decommissioning
(disarmament) to the exclusion of all else, and
I-R-A guns, to the exclusion of all others.
/// End Act ///
Protestant paramilitary groups maintain they will not
disarm until the I-R-A begins to do so. (Signed)
NEB/DAT/ENE/JP
24-Feb-2000 15:22 PM EDT (24-Feb-2000 2022 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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