IRISH PEACE TALKS PLANNED FOR JUNE.Byline: Sarah Lyall Sarah Lambert Lyall is an American-born journalist who writes for The New York Times. Lyall is a graduate of Philips Exeter Academy, class of 1981[1] and of Yale University. The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times Declaring that they had resurrected hopes of bringing peace to Northern Ireland Northern Ireland: see Ireland, Northern. Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupying the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Area: 5,461 sq mi (14,144 sq km). Population (2001): 1,685,267. , the leaders of Britain and Ireland said Wednesday that negotiations among all sides over the future of the troubled province would begin June 10. Prime Ministers John Major of Britain and John Bruton of Ireland said Sinn Fein Sinn Fein n. An Irish political and cultural society founded about 1905 to promote political and economic independence from England, unification of Ireland, and a renewal of Irish culture. , the political wing of the Irish Republican Army Irish Republican Army (IRA), nationalist organization devoted to the integration of Ireland as a complete and independent unit. Organized by Michael Collins from remnants of rebel units dispersed after the Easter Rebellion in 1916 (see Ireland), it was composed of , would be allowed to take part in the talks, but only if the IRA Ira, in the Bible Ira (ī`rə), in the Bible. 1 Chief officer of David. 2, 3 Two of David's guard. IRA, abbreviation IRA. agreed to restore its cease-fire. The announcement appeared to make important concessions to Sinn Fein and the IRA, which ended its cease-fire earlier this month with a spate of bombing attacks in London. For the first time, the leaders set a date for inclusive negotiations, long a Sinn Fein demand, and they agreed that such talks could begin before the IRA gave up any of its arsenal, an issue that derailed negotiations up to now. But the plan also calls for quick elections in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland elects on national level a legislature. The Northern Ireland Assembly has 108 members, elected in 18 six-member constituencies with the single transferable vote method. to determine who will speak for the parties there, and Sinn Fein has been suspicious of that idea in the past. It remains unclear whether Sinn Fein will agree to the conditions and, most important, whether the IRA will declare a new cease-fire. The last endured 17 months. There was no immediate reaction from the IRA, but Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein's president, responded cautiously, welcoming the setting of a date for talks but criticizing other elements of the proposal. While Wednesday's plan sets forth a blueprint for talks and meetings, it does little to resolve the underlying question of whether Northern Ireland, which is predominantly Protestant, should remain part of Britain, adopt some other status or merge with the Republic of Ireland, which is overwhelmingly Catholic. That issue will be addressed when the talks begin in June, the prime ministers said. Under their plan, there will be elections in Northern Ireland to determine which parties will take part in the June talks and their conditions for doing so. CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo Ireland's prime minister John Bruton, left, and Foreign Minister Dick Spring leave a summit meeting held Wednesday in London. Associated Press |
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