UK News 02-12-1999 New Dawn In Northern Ireland who: Northern Ireland Assembly what: Meets for the first time where: BELFAST when: Yesterday snippet: The new Northern Ireland government held its first cabinet meeting yesterday and Ireland lifted its claim over the province. The papers are almost unanimous in honouring its historic nature. "Hand of History Touches Ulster" says The Guardian; "Finally It`s Peace: Let`s Pray It Lasts" says The Sun; The Times calls it a "new chapter of history"; and The Mirror leads with "Smile! We`ve Just Made History". "However," points out The Mirror, the inaugural cabinet meeting "was marred by the absence of two members of Ian Paisley`s Democratic Unionist party - Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds - who refuse to meet Sinn Fein." Nevertheless, reports The Times, following on from yesterday`s two landmark events officials are "confident that a third choreographed step would take place soon with the IRA naming its first go-between to oversee arms decommissioning." Tony Blair said yesterday "There is still a long journey to travel and many obstacles. But at least we have hope in place of pain, confidence in place of fear." [... more]

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