IAIS: DRAMATIC BREAKTHROUGH WELCOMED Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit News from the Irish American Information Service 25 September 1997 email: gkennedy@iais.org ------------------------------------------------ DRAMATIC BREAKTHROUGH WELCOMED 09/25/97 10:36 EST A deal between the leaders of Northern Ireland's main parties which will mean the start of negotiations on a new political future was welcomed by the British and Irish governments. British Prime Minister, Tony Blair said he now wanted rapid progress in the political discussions on the way forward and repeated that he is determined to reach agreement by next may. The dramatic and unexpected late night breakthrough was hailed by Irish Justice Minister, John O'Donoghue who said an important page in Irish history had been turned. "It is no exaggeration to say a ray of light shines across the entire island of Ireland and will lift the heart of all its inhabitants." He said it was a momentous occasion and a considerable amount of work would be needed to realise the potential of the peace process. "These negotiations will clearly not be easy," he said. The breakthrough, which will mean the start of negotiations on the future of Northern Ireland, came as the Irish and British governments rejected an Ulster Unionist bid to eject Sinn Fein from the talks for an alleged breach of the Mitchell Principles of non-violence. The deal came as unionists moderated their demands for the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons. Last night Canadian General John de Chaselain will chair the commission on decommissioning, along with United States diplomat Donal Johnson and Finland's General Tauno Nieminen. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said: "This is an historic day. All of the participants have voted to move into negotiation on the substantive issues. We look forward to putting to the other participants our republican analysis and our vision for a new Ireland, united and democratic, and at peace. We also look forward to listening to the views of others." ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-09.27.97-08:58:50-6794