NORTHERN IRELAND: POLITICIANS WELCOME CHANCE OF RENEWED CEASE-FIRE

Описание: (19 Jul 1997) English/Nat

Politicians in Northern Ireland have been giving a cautious welcome to the possibility of a renewed IRA (Irish Republican Army) cease-fire.

Sinn Fein - the IRA's political wing - requested an immediate cessation to all hostilities on Friday, in the hope that they could soon be admitted to peace talks.

Loyalist spokesman David Irvine broadly welcomed Sinn Fein's request for a new cease- fire.

But he said that if a cease-fire comes, it needs to be credible and lasting, unlike the previous IRA truce.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Again it's a sense of mixed emotion. It's one that says that's good. I think that the people of Northern Ireland thoroughly deserve it. The world has been waiting for it. We have felt that there was nowhere else for the IRA to go, to recognise that the democratic path is the only way forward especially in a divided society. However if we are to have merely the same level of cease-fire and attitude towards cease-fire that we had in 1994 which was effectively destroyed through what we understand to be frustration, then perhaps that will not be good enough. But I'm not likely to say I don't want an IRA cease-fire. I certainly do want an IRA cease-fire, and I think that the ensuing days weeks and months will indicate whether the or not the IRA are real."
SUPER CAPTION: David Irvine, Spokesman for the Progressive Unionist Party

Joe Hendron - a SDLP member who lost his seat of West Belfast to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in the last election - also gave a conditional welcome to the announcement.

But he warned that only time would tell whether a new cease-fire was credible.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It is a positive step forwards and I don't think the IRA are going to have one cease-fire that falls apart and then call another one. I don't think they're going to do that. I think we are about to have a proper and full cease-fire. Obviously we'll all be monitoring the situation on the ground, and the Republican movement by their words and by their actions they shall be judged by that."
SUPER CAPTION: Dr Joe Hendron, Former SDLP MP for West Belfast

Ken Maginnis of the Ulster Unionist Party pored scorn on Sinn Fein's motives in declaring a truce.

In his view, a cease-fire only postpones violence, while giving terrorists a voice at peace talks.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"People should actually try to assess the value of what is happening, and there is no value in a cease-fire being declared today, that is the same as the cease-fire of August 1994. That was a time for regrouping redeploying, retraining, recruiting. It was a time for planning Canary Wharf and Manchester. It was a time that led to the deaths of two policemen in Lurgan. That's what we're dealing with, and if that's what we're going to have at the table of democracy then those of us who are the real democrats have to fight it and we need the support of the general public as we do fight it"
SUPER CAPTION: Ken Maginnis, Ulster Unionist Spokesman

As yet, there has been no formal response from the outlawed IRA to Sinn Fein's request.

When and if a cease-fire is declared, Sinn Fein could be admitted to all party talks in as little as six weeks.

That prospect is sure to meet with further outrage from some Unionist contingents.

In particular the Ulster Unionists, who are still demanding decommissioning of IRA weapons before constructive negotiations can begin.

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