-Caveat Lector-
>From Irish Times
> Saturday, June 26, 1999
>
> Arms principles agreed but
> tough talks lie ahead
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> -- By Deadlán de Bréadún, Northern Editor
>
> The basic principles for resolving the arms decommissioning impasse
> have been agreed in the Stormont talks but major differences remain on
> timing and implementation, and the resumed negotiations next week are
> likely to be difficult.
>
> The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister return to Belfast on
> Monday morning for what is expected to be a tough and sustained period
> of negotiations ahead of Wednesday's deadline for agreement.
>
> The meetings with different parties yesterday were considered a
> partial success which laid the groundwork for next week's talks. The
> details still have to be worked out, and there are serious differences
> outstanding between the Ulster Unionists and Sinn Féin.
>
> Mr Blair and Mr Ahern focused their attention on securing an
> acknowledgement from the proagreement parties, especially Sinn Féin,
> that they were committed to the following principles.
>
> 1, An inclusive executive exercising devolved powers;
>
> 2, Decommissioning of all paramilitary arms by May 2000;
>
> 3, Decommissioning to be carried out in a manner determined by the
> Independent Commission on Decommissioning.
>
> The Taoiseach and prime minister held a brief press conference to
> announce the agreement on principles, but allowed no questions from
> the media.
>
> Shortly afterwards, the Sinn Féin vicepresident, Mr Pat Doherty, read
> a prepared statement which welcomed an assertion from the two prime
> ministers that the Good Friday pact was "binding" and "the context for
> moving forward".
>
> In what was seen as a significant passage, Mr Doherty said: "The three
> principles that they put forward, firmly bedded in the terms of the
> Good Friday agreement, can resolve the impasse if there is the
> political will."
>
> A commitment to IRA decommissioning remained essential, however,
> according to the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, who said he hoped that
> republicans were "making their own Damascus Road conversion by
> accepting their obligation to decommisson". The day began with the
> main parties giving noncommittal reactions to an article in the Times
> of London by Mr Blair in which he suggested Sinn Féin could be
> admitted to government without prior decommissioning provided there
> was "a clear guarantee of decommissioning by Sinn Féin" under a
> 10-month timetable laid down by Gen de Chastelain.
>
> In a key phrase, Mr Blair added that there should be "a cast-iron,
> fail-safe device that if it (decommissioning) didn't happen according
> to the timetable, that executive couldn't continue".
>
> Privately, senior unionists compared the Prime Minister's remarks
> favourably with his speech at Stranmillis College during a recent
> visit, which was felt to be unduly close to the Sinn Féin position.
> Republicans were adamant that Sinn Féin could not guarantee
> decommissioning by the IRA which, they insisted, despite the Prime
> Minister's claims to the contrary, was a separate organisation.
>
> Sinn Féin sources warned against confusion over the joint press
> statement issued by Mr Blair and Mr Ahern. The principles enunciated
> by the two prime ministers were "bedded firmly in the Good Friday
> Agreement". Nothing in the three principles superseded the Good Friday
> document, Sinn Féin sources said.
>
> ein had fundamentally altered its stance on the weapons issue,
> republicans privately poured cold water on this interpretation.
>
> Grave doubt still remains about the ability of the UUP leadership to
> sell any compromise to its grassroots supporters, many of whom are
> only interested in "product", i.e., prior disposal of guns by the IRA.
>
> Mr Blair appears to be trying to provide Mr Trimble with a shield
> against his internal party critics by attaching conditions to the
> existence of any executive formed in the absence of decommissioning.
>
> ein is prepared to use its influence with the IRA to achieve
> decommissioning, but says it cannot guarantee that disposal of weapons
> will, in fact, take place. Republican sources said privately that even
> the IRA could not give such a guarantee because of the unpredictable
> nature of events on the ground, e.g., continuing loyalist violence
> against nationalist homes. Meanwhile, it was announced that the US
> member of Gen de Chastelain's decommissioning body, Mr Donald C.
> Johnson, had told the two governments last month he would be standing
> down "for career reasons" from July 2nd. He will be replaced by
> another American, Mr Andrew Sens.
> Saturday, June 26, 1999
>
> Supporters applaud as
> Long March leaves Limavady
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> -- By Clare Murphy, in Limavady
>
> There was applause from bystanders outside the Orange Hall in
> Limavady, Co Derry, as the Long March left for the second stage of the
> 117-mile walk from Derry to Portadown in support of Protestant rights
> and the Portadown Orangemen.
>
> "Our mission is to create awareness of our lack of human rights, take
> action to redress the balance and advance positively into the future
> on equal terms," said the march organiser, Mr Jonathan Bell, an Ulster
> Unionist councillor. "We want to give the real victims a true voice."
>
> Protestants in Northern Ireland had experienced systematic abuse,
> discrimination and ethnic cleansing at the hands of republicans, Mr
> Bell added.
>
> Speaking before the march departed for a 14-mile walk to Coleraine, Co
> Derry, the Northern Ireland Unionist Party Assembly member, Mr Norman
> Boyd, said that for 30 years the Protestant people had been "bombed,
> bullied, bribed, brainwashed and blackmailed".
>
> Mr Fraser Agnew of the United Unionist Assembly Party said he had not
> been surprised by Thursday's foiled attempt by dissident republicans
> to transport a bomb across the Border, with the march a possible
> target.
>
> He added that as the march went through Derry on its first day those
> taking part saw the "hatred and bitterness" in the eyes of some
> nationalist protesters lining the route. Mr Bell was also critical of
> the protesters. "We were only allowed to carry one banner but we faced
> dozens and dozens of banners of sectarian slogans," he said.
>
> Walking to the front of yesterday's march were victims of the 1982
> Droppin' Well bomb in Ballykelly, Co Derry, which was carried out by
> the INLA and killed 17 people, including 11 soldiers.
>
> Mrs Sylvia Callaghan, who lost a son in the explosion, spoke of her
> resentment of the early release of prisoners under the Belfast
> Agreement. "To know that the people who murdered my son are freely
> walking the streets while I and others like me are still suffering is
> a crime against myself and the other people who have lost loved ones,"
> she said.
>
> As the marchers went through the centre of Limavady supporters lined
> the route. Five RUC vehicles and an ambulance accompanied the march as
> it turned on to the A37 towards Coleraine where organisers had last
> night scheduled a rally. Today the march departs from Coleraine for a
> nine-mile walk to Ballymoney, Co Antrim.
>
> About marchers are expected to complete the 117 miles. The Long March
> arrives in Portadown on July 4th for the annual Orange Order
> demonstration in the town. The Portadown Orange Lodge has been
> involved in a standoff at Drumcree since last July when it was
> prevented from parading down the nationalist Garvaghy Road.
A<>E<>R
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