(2 Feb 1996) English/Nat
President Clinton is urging all sides in the Northern Ireland dispute to stick to the peace process and break the impasse blocking comprehensive talks on the future of the troubled British province.
Clinton joined in for part of a two-hour meeting between Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and National Security Adviser Anthony Lake.
According to a spokesman, the president "underscored the need for rapid progress towards all-party talks" on the future of the province.
Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams is taking his case to Washington over the latest deadlock in the Northern Ireland peace process.
Adams told American lawmakers that British Prime Minister John Major is not serious about bringing peace to Northern Ireland, calling his policies a disgrace and calling on President Clinton to intervene:
SOUNDBITE:
Any engagement so far by this president has had the effect of moving the situation on. And we have always insisted only, because we understand the relationship between the U-S and Ireland, and the relationship between the U-S and Britain. We have always stressed that it needs to be evenhanded and balanced. And there needs to be a continuation of that, and I think this White House and this president is committed to that.
SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein leader.
A special commission on Northern Ireland, sent by Clinton and led by former U-S senator George Mitchell, last week called on Britain to drop a demand that rival paramilitary groups discard some weapons before participating in peace talks.
Adams supports the recommendations but Sinn Fein has rejected a proposal by Major that elections be held before all-party negotiations begin.
Sinn Fein wants all-party talks and only then elections if deemed necessary.
Adams vigorously lobbied for support among prominent congressmen on Capitol Hill, including Massachusetts Democrat Jo Kennedy:
SOUNDBITE
And rather than the Paramilitaries or the Irish Republic backing away, it is the British who back away from peace accords, so I think people are very, very concerned about it Gerry, and we really want to know what your sense is. How long is it before you think that elements within either the Irish Republican army and in the Protestant Paramilitaries begin to go back to an armed struggle.
SUPERCAPTION Rep. Jo Kennedy
SOUNDBITE Well I don't know. My sense of it is that they have made a commitment and they have been very disciplined, despite the provocation, and I actually have become philosophical about that aspect of it, because what we have to do is to make sure the process works, no matter what strains or pressures it's under.
SUPERCAPTION Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein Leader
Adams continues his four-day tour of the U-S with a visit to Pittsburgh on Friday.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
