DATE=5/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND/VOTE (L)
NUMBER=2-262882
BYLINE=EVANS HAYS
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Northern Ireland's main Protestant party
supported its leader, David Trimble, Saturday and
voted to revive a power-sharing regional government
with the Catholic Republicans. Britain announced
almost immediately it will restore home rule to
Northern Ireland, effective midnight Monday. As V-O-
A's Evans Hays reports, there was strong opposition to
Saturday's vote from hard-line unionists, and Mr.
Trimble's victory came with a narrow margin of 459 to
403.
TEXT: Mr. Trimble was smiling broadly as he emerged
from the conference hall.
He was clearly pleased at winning a closely fought
campaign that had centered largely on a pledge by the
Irish Republican Army that it will disarm.
That was a requirement of the 1998 Good Friday peace
accord that saw Protestants and Catholics sharing
power briefly in a Northern Ireland Executive.
Britain suspended that executive early this year
because the I-R-A had failed to move forward on
disarmament. This month, the I-R-A agreed to start
putting its weapons in secure depots to be monitored
by international observers to ensure they are not
used.
Unionist hard-liners said this was not enough. But
Mr. Trimble called it a good faith effort. Now, he
says, it is time for the I-R-A to make good on its
promises.
/// TRIMBLE ACT ONE ///
This time, we are operating in reliance on
promises made by the Republican movement. Two
weeks have already gone since that promise was
made. I expect it to be delivered fairly soon
now. A promise that they will now and in future
pursue their political objectives peacefully.
And a promise that they will initiate a process
that will put their arms completely and
verifiably beyond use.
/// END ACT ///
He said the Ulster Unionists had, in his words,
stretched themselves and worked hard to keep the peace
process going, and the results are visible. He said
Belfast is booming economically.
/// TRIMBLE ACT TWO ///
That is due in no small measure to what we have
done over the last couple of years. And I think
people, certainly people in the community as a
whole, can see that this is happening. And
they'd notice, too, how in the last year, 1999
specifically, first year for 30 years in which
not a soldier was killed, not a policeman was
murdered. Now that's the clear achievements
that are coming from this. And we are bringing
paramilitaries closer to the democratic process.
// END ACT ///
Britain responded immediately to Saturday's Ulster
Union Party vote. Northern Ireland Secretary Peter
Mandelson signed a document restoring home rule to
Northern Ireland, effective at midnight Monday.
(Signed)
NEB/EH/ALW/JP
27-May-2000 11:26 AM EDT (27-May-2000 1526 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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