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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 1, 1994                   TAG: 9402250011
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MAJOR PACT

ONE OF the most hopeful developments on Northern Ireland since the "troubles" began there 25 years ago recently occurred. Unfortunately, it didn't occur in Northern Ireland itself.

British Prime Minister John Major and Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds have outlined a set of peace principles. The statesmen live, of course, in London and Dublin. The troubles reside in Belfast. Even so, the declaration is a step toward eventual settlement.

Major, for his part, agreed to accept a united Ireland if that was the majority wish in the North. Reynolds agreed to put off pressing for unification, as stipulated in the Irish constitution. A cease-fire is called for, culminating in what at this moment still seems unlikely: direct talks between pro-British Unionists and the nationalist Sinn Fein.

Continued progress, as always, will depend on willingness to isolate and ignore the terrorists and hard-core haters - on both sides - who have succeeded before in derailing talks. (Unionist gunmen killed more people last year than the Irish Republican Army did. They can be expected to escalate the violence in hopes of provoking a reaction.)

Progress toward peace will also depend on whether the Irish people have grown weary enough of the bloodshed to work to end it. If they're ready, the principles worked out by Major and Reynolds can help guide the effort.

by CNB