DATE=5/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L)
NUMBER=2-262840
BYLINE=EVANS HAYS
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Northern Ireland Protestant leader David
Trimble has called on his Ulster Unionist Party to
agree on plans to restore a power-sharing government
to the province. His remarks came less than 24 hours
before a crucial party meeting that could determine if
peace and self-government can survive in Northern
Ireland. As VOA's Evans Hays reports from London, Mr.
Trimble was speaking after a meeting with his chief
critic, hard-line Unionist Jeffrey Donaldson, who says
Catholic guerrillas must first start disarming.
TEXT: Mr. Trimble wasted no time in making clear he
rejected all hard-line efforts to delay a decision on
this month's disarmament plan submitted by the Irish
Republican Army (I-R-A).
If the Unionists approve the plan, Britain is expected
to move swiftly to restore a power-sharing Executive
in Northern Ireland. Belfast's home-rule government
was suspended in February, because the I-R-A failed to
start disarming under the 1998 Good Friday peace
accord.
The I-R-A has since agreed to put its weapons in
hidden depots that will be monitored by international
observers. Mr. Trimble says this is a good start and
it is time to put the I-R-A's promise to the test.
Hard-liners, such as Mr. Donaldson, reject the I-R-A
offer as too little. He said after Friday's meeting
that power-sharing must come later, after the I-R-A
proves it has truly given up its weapons.
Mr. Trimble says the time for moving forward is now,
not later.
/// Trimble Act ///
But at that meeting tomorrow, we have to
appreciate that the time will come for decisions
and when it comes to decisions it's best to have
clear choices. And we'll endeavor to present
such a clear choice before the party because we
do think that this is an important stage, there
is an opportunity here to make real progress,
progress toward peace, toward putting in place
accountable democracy, towards the securing of
the union in the way we believe we have.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Trimble says he hopes the I-R-A will honor the
pledge it has given to begin a process that will
completely and verifiably put its weapons out of use.
/// 2nd Trimble Act ///
We think the best way of achieving that is
indeed to proceed to reform the administration
and that is the proposal we will put to our
party council tomorrow and is a proposal we hope
will be endorsed.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Trimble said he hopes that if the proposal is
adopted, the party will demonstrate unity after the
meeting.
/// OPT /// /// 3rd Trimble Act ///
And we hope, too, that if it is endorsed, that bearing
in mind what I've said about the need to increase
confidence within the party. But bearing that in mind,
I hope this time we will see the concern that Jeffrey
(Donaldson) displayed this morning for party unity
reflected after the meeting and that we will see the
party unite in support of the policy that the party
will have adopted and we hope that this time the
lessons of the damage disunity causes will have been
learned.
/// End Act /// /// END OPT ///
Although observers say Mr. Trimble appears to be
gaining the upper hand as the Belfast meeting draws
near, few are willing to bet on the outcome. (Signed)
NEB/EH/GE/KBK
26-May-2000 09:13 AM LOC (26-May-2000 1313 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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