Voice of America, 97-12-28

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] N. IRELAND VIOLENCE (L ONLY) BY KEVIN KELLY (BELFAST)

[02] TURKMENISTAN/IRAN (L) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

[01] N. IRELAND VIOLENCE (L ONLY) BY KEVIN KELLY (BELFAST)

INTRO: IN NORTHERN IRELAND, A BREAKAWAY EXTREMIST GROUP SAYS IT MURDERED A FORMER I-R-A PRISONER SATURDAY IN AN ISOLATED HOTEL IN COUNTY TYRONE. THE ATTACK IS SEEN AS A DIRECT RETALIATION FOR THE MURDER OF LOYALIST BILLY WRIGHT IN THE MAZE JAIL SATURDAY OUTSIDE BELFAST. BOTH KILLINGS, WHICH HAVE BEEN CONDEMNED BY THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS, HAVE PUT PRESSURE ON THE ALREADY FRAGILE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS. FROM BELFAST, KEVIN KELLY HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: SEAMUS DILLON WAS WORKING AS A DOORMAN OUTSIDE THE HOTEL DISCO WHEN THE GUNMEN STRUCK. TWO MASKED GUNMEN SPRAYED THE HOTEL WITH 18 HIGH-VELOCITY SHOTS, KILLING DILLON AND INJURING THREE OTHERS, INCLUDING A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY. THE CAR USED BY THE GUNMEN WAS FOUND BURNED OUT IN AN ISOLATED LANEWAY THREE-KILOMETERS AWAY.

MEMBERS OF THE PROTESTANT EXTREMIST TERROR GROUP "THE ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE" SAID THEY CARRIED OUT THE ATTACK. SATURDAY, THEIR LEADER, BILL WRIGHT, WAS GUNNED DOWN INSIDE A HIGH-SECURITY PRISON NEAR BELFAST BY THREE GUNMEN FROM A REPUBLIC SPLINTER GROUP.

THE KILLING SHOCKED OFFICIALS IN BOTH NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC, AND BROUGHT INTO QUESTION SECURITY MEASURES AT THE MAZE PRISON. BOTH PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC TERRORISTS ARE HELD IN SEPARATE PARTS OF THE JAIL. SOMEHOW, THREE PRISONERS OBTAINED HANDGUNS AND CLIMBED OVER HIGH SECURITY WALLS TO CARRY OUT THE WRIGHT KILLING.

THE VICTIM OF THE REPRISAL ATTACK, SEAMUS DILLON, HAD SERVED 14-YEARS OF A LIFE SENTENCE FOR KILLING A NORTHERN IRELAND POLICEMAN. HE WAS RELEASED IN 1994. REPUBLICAN SOURCES IN THE AREA SAID HE HAD LEFT THE I-R-A.

CONDEMNING BOTH MURDERS, THE BRITISH MINISTER IN NORTHERN IRELAND, MO MOWLAM, SAID SHE UNDERSTOOD THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE, BUT SHE STRESSED THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT OVERREACT. SHE WILL DISCUSS BOTH KILLINGS AND SECURITY AT THE MAZE PRISON AT A MEETING MONDAY WITH SENIOR POLICE AND SENIOR PRISON SERVICE OFFICERS

THE IRISH GOVERNMENT DESCRIBED BOTH MURDERS AS -- OBSCENITIES DESIGNED TO UNDERMINE THE PEACE PROCESS. AS 1998 APPROACHES, THAT PROCESS SEEMS SHAKY, ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE DIFFERING SIDES IN NORTHERN IRELAND'S POLITICAL SPECTRUM SEEM DETERMINED TO KEEP IT ON TRACK. (SIGNED)
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28-Dec-97 1:06 PM EST (1806 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] TURKMENISTAN/IRAN (L) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF IRAN IS IN TURKMENISTAN ON HIS FIRST FOREIGN TRIP SINCE HE BECAME PRESIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR. MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI MET (SUNDAY) WITH THE LEADER OF TURKMENISTAN, SAPARMURAT NIYAZOV, A DAY BEFORE THE TWO MEN ARE TO OPEN A PIPELINE BETWEEN THEIR COUNTRIES. THE 200-KILOMETER LONG PIPELINE IS EXPECTED TO BRING FOUR-BILLION CUBIC METERS OF NATURAL GAS A YEAR TO IRAN. THAT AMOUNT IS EXPECTED TO DOUBLE BY THE YEAR 2006.

MR. KHATAMI'S ARRIVAL IN ASHGABAT COINCIDED WITH THE END OF A VISIT BY TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ, WHO IS ALSO INTERESTED IN CLOSER TIES WITH ENERGY-RICH TURKMENISTAN.

PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ AND PRESIDENT NIZAYOV SIGNED DEALS (SUNDAY) TO BOOST TRADE TIES. OIL AND GAS MINISTERS FROM TURKEY, IRAN, AND TURKMENISTAN ALSO SIGNED AGREEMENTS TO LET THE OIL CONSORTIUM "ROYAL DUTCH SHELL" DRAW UP PLANS FOR A PIPELINE ACROSS ALL THREE COUNTRIES. THE PROPOSED ONE-POINT-SIX-BILLION DOLLAR PIPELINE WOULD CARRY TURKMEN GAS 15-HUNDRED KILOMETERS TO TURKEY VIA IRAN.

TURKMENISTAN IS FAST BECOMING AN IMPORTANT PLAYER IN THE CONTEST TO DEVELOP CASPIAN SEA OIL. THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC HAS BEEN TRYING TO REDUCE ITS DEPENDENCE ON RUSSIA. IRAN HAS EMERGED AS A STRONG PARTNER AND HAS COMMITTED TO BUYING NATURAL GAS FROM TURKMENISTAN FOR 25-YEARS.

U-S OIL GIANTS ARE ALSO INVESTING IN THE CASPIAN-SEA REGION. THE UNITED STATES IS EXPECTED TO CLOSELY WATCH MR. KHATAMI'S CURRENT VISIT TO ASHGABAT. (SIGNED)
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28-Dec-97 10:05 AM EST (1505 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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