
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 9, 1990                   TAG: 9006090031
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: TORONTO                                LENGTH: Short

CANADIAN PREMIERS TRY TO PLACATE QUEBEC

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and 10 provincial premiers met behind closed doors Friday in another attempt to save a constitutional accord that many Quebec residents demand as the price for remaining in Canada.

The 10 provinces by law have until June 23 to approve the 1987 Meech Lake accord, which recognizes French-speaking Quebec as a "distinct society." Two provinces, Newfoundland and Manitoba, remain holdouts against the wishes of Mulroney, opposing the accord.

Many Quebecois, French for the 6.7 million citizens of Quebec, say the province should reconsider its place in the Canadian federation if the accord is rejected by any of the provinces.

"This is fundamental to Quebecois," Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa said as he arrived at the conference center in Ottawa on Friday, the sixth straight day of talks that were convened Sunday by Mulroney to try to hammer out a solution. "Their first choice is to stay within Canada and be recognized as a distinct society."

- Associated Press

by CNB