Voice of America, 99-11-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY LOURDES NAVARRO (LONDON)

[02] NORTHERN IRELAND UPDATE S BY LOURDES NAVARRO (LONDON)

[03] NORTHERN IRELAND S L BY LOURDES NAVARRO (LONDON)

[04] SPAIN-ETA (S-L) BY GIL CARBAJAL (MADRID)

[01] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY LOURDES NAVARRO (LONDON)

INTRO: Northern Ireland's largest Protestant party has voted to support a U-S mediated peace deal. Almost 60 percent of the Ulster Unionist council voted to accept the plan, which clears the way for a joint Catholic and Protestant government and fulfills the terms of the so-called Good Friday Accord of 1998. But, as Lourdes Navarro reports from London, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble had to make some major concessions to win his party's support.

TEXT: The vote was a triumph for Mr. Trimble. The ratification of U-S mediator George Mitchell's plan means that by early next week the Protestant party that wants to keep British rule in Northern Ireland will join a power-sharing government with Sinn Fein, the political wing of the outlawed Irish Republican Army, or I-R-A. But while the tense and emotional three-hour debate ended in victory, Mr. Trimble did have to make some concessions. The Mitchell plan calls for the Ulster Unionists to take power with Sinn Fein, before the I-R-A begins to turn in its weapons. In order to get a majority on his side, Mr. Trimble had to postpone final ratification of the Mitchell plan until February. But the provisional acceptance of the agreement means that a new Protestant and Catholic cabinet will be assembled early next week - the first time in a generation that the two sides have governed together. Following the vote, Mr. Trimble said it is now up to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to see that the I-R-A delivers on its promise to begin turning in its weapons.

[02] NORTHERN IRELAND UPDATE S BY LOURDES NAVARRO (LONDON)

INTRO: Northern Ireland's largest Protestant party has voted to support a U-S mediated peace deal. Almost 60 percent of the Ulster Unionist council decided to accept the plan that clears the way for a joint Catholic and Protestant government. But, as Lourdes Navarro reports from London, in order for Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble to get the support he had to make some major concessions.

TEXT: Mr. Trimble promised the more than 800 members of the Ulster Unionist council that he would resign as head of the party if the outlawed Irish Republican Army did not begin giving up its weapons by January. Under the package negotiated by U-S diplomat George Mitchell, the Ulster Unionists will take power with Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, before the I-R-A actually disarms. More significantly, Mr. Trimble told the assembled group that this vote would not be the final one on the matter. Ultimate ratification of the Mitchell plan would be postponed until the end of February to see if the I-R-A has kept its promise to give up weapons. The positive outcome of the vote means that a power- sharing executive could be set up as soon as early as next week.(signed)
NEB/LN/DW/JP 27-Nov-1999 09:31 AM EDT (27-Nov-1999 1431 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] NORTHERN IRELAND S L BY LOURDES NAVARRO (LONDON)

INTRO: British Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson says he is confident the Irish Republican Army will hand in its weapons and comply with a U-S mediated peace deal. The deal approved Saturday by the Protestant Ulster Unionist party paves the way for a joint Protestant and Catholic government as early as this week. But, as Lourdes Navarro reports from London, there are still obstacles on the road to a lasting peace.

TEXT: Ulster Unionists approved the plan that will have them sharing government with the Irish Republican Army's political wing, Sinn Fein, before the guerilla group hands in its weapons. In return for Sinn Fein sharing power, the I-R-A must begin negotiations to disarm on the same day the new cabinet is assembled. But to get the Unionists to back the plan, leader David Trimble had to postpone its final ratification until February -- giving his group the opportunity to stop the peace process if the I-R-A has not started handing over its weapons by then. He also offered to resign. But Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams expressed his party's anger at the compromise. Mr. Adams said deferring the decision would lead to uncertainty.

[04] SPAIN-ETA (S-L) BY GIL CARBAJAL (MADRID)

INTRO: Spain's Basque separatists have announced the end of their 14-month-old ceasefire. Gil Carbajal reports from Madrid that the announcement follows a stalemate in peace negotiations.

TEXT: The Basque pro-independence group ETA says it is ending the ceasefire it has observed since September 18 of last year. ETA says it is ending the truce because the peace process had been -- in its words -- "blocked and poisoned" by the Spanish government and moderate Basques. In a communique published Sunday in the Basque newspaper "Gara", the terrorist group blamed its decision on "repression" by the Spanish and French governments. It also cited the failure of moderate Basque nationalist parties to cooperate in achieving an independent Basque state. The ETA announcement said its commandos would receive orders on Friday -- December 3rd -- when to resume terrorist activity. The end of the ETA ceasefire came as a shock to the Basque country in the north of Spain. After more than a year of peace, people had begun to hope for an end to three-decades of violence that cost more than 800 lives.

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