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WORLD NEWS Monday 9 May 2022
N.Ireland parties urged to work together after Sinn Fein win

By SYLVIA HUI Secretary Brandon Lewis
LONDON (AP) — The U.K., said he will meet with party
U.S. and Irish governments leaders Monday to discuss
have urged rival parties in how to re-establish a func-
Northern Ireland to come tioning government.
together to resurrect its Lewis reiterated his position
power-sharing government that the U.K. government
after Irish nationalist party would like to reach an
Sinn Fein scored a historic agreement with the EU to
victory to become the big- resolve disputes over post-
gest party in Northern Ire- Brexit rules known as the
land's Assembly. Northern Ireland Protocol.
Sinn Fein, which seeks union The DUP is strongly opposed
with Ireland, won 27 seats to the rules, which have im-
in the 90-seat legislature, posed customs and border
beating the Democratic checks on some goods en-
Unionist Party, which se- tering Northern Ireland from
cured 25 seats. It's the first the rest of the U.K. Unionists
time in Northern Ireland's say the new checks have
history that an Irish nation- created a barrier between
alist party has topped the Northern Ireland and the
voting. rest of the U.K. that under-
But it's not clear whether mines their British identity.
Sinn Fein will lead a new Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill speaks after topping the poll at the Medow Bank election count centre Britain's Conservative gov-
government because of on Saturday, May, 7, 2022, in Magherafelt , Northern Ireland. ernment is trying to get
Northern Ireland's delicate Associated Press the EU to agree to major
power-sharing politics and changes, but negotiations
ongoing tussles over the role of deputy first minister. Dublin said all parties must ity and mutual respect have reached an impasse.
legacy of Britain's exit from In February the DUP's Paul now re-establish Northern are at the heart of the "The U.K. government's po-
the European Union. Givan quit as first minister in Ireland's government as Good Friday Agreement, sition is we want to secure a
While Sinn Fein's vice-pres- protest against post-Brexit soon as possible. through which peace has deal with the EU. We're very
ident Michelle O'Neill now border arrangements, col- Irish prime minister Micheál been secured and prog- clear about that," Lewis
has the right to the post of lapsing the Executive. His Martin said late Saturday ress achieved for almost 25 told the BBC Sunday. "We
first minister, a functioning party has said it will not re- that "it is now incumbent years," he added. "A new have worked very hard on
Northern Ireland Executive turn to government unless on all political parties and power-sharing Executive is that for over a year now
— or devolved govern- their demands over the elected representatives to vital for progress and pros- across a series of conversa-
ment — cannot be formed customs arrangements are deliver on their mandate." perity for all in Northern Ire- tions. We made proposals.
unless the largest unionist met. "Power-sharing and princi- land." The EU haven't shown any
party agrees to join in the Leaders in London and ples of partnership, equal- In London, Northern Ireland flexibility."q

Australian leader silent on reaction to feared Chinese base

By ROD McGUIRK election campaign debate partners' positions are. That
Associated Press about a recent security is United States' position
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) pact between China and and certainly our position
— Australia's prime minis- the Solomon Islands. and I believe it is a broader
ter on Sunday refused to Asked what he meant position of the Pacific is-
say how his government by "red line," he replied: landers family as well," he
might respond if China at- "It means that was some- said.
tempted to establish a mili- thing that Australia be- The United States has said it
tary base less than 2,000 lieves would be completely would take unspecified ac-
kilometers (1,200 miles) off against our national inter- tion against the Solomons
the Australian coast on the est." should the agreement with
Solomon Islands. "We also believe it will be China pose a threat to U.S.
Prime Minister Scott Morri- against the Solomon Is- or allied interests.
son has said that a Chinese lands' national interest and The Solomon Islands' Prime
naval base on the impov- we share that view in a simi- Minister Manasseh Sogava- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison campaigns in Sydney,
erished South Pacific island lar language with the Unit- re told Parliament last week Thursday, May 5, 2022.
nation would be a "red ed States," Morrison added. that opponents of the se- Associated Press
line" for both Australia and Morrison declined to say curity pact had threatened
the United States. His lan- whether Australia would his country "with invasion." was leaked online, said Chi- Opposition leader An-
guage was reminiscent to attempt to blockade any On the threat of invasion, nese warships could stop in thony Albanese, who will
President Barack Obama's attempt to build a Chinese Morrison said last week, the Solomon Islands for lo- become prime minister if
declaration in 2012 that the base. "I think it would be "none of that's true." gistical replenishment and his center-left Labor Party
use of chemical weapons very unwise for any govern- Sogavare has maintained China could send police defeats the ruling conser-
by Syrian forces would be ment to speculate around that there would be no and armed forces there vative coalition in May 21
crossing a "red line" requir- these issues," he said. Chinese base in his coun- "to assist in maintaining so- elections, accused Mor-
ing American military inter- "What is necessary in inter- try and China has denied cial order." The Solomon Is- rison of a "massive foreign
vention. national environments such seeking a military foothold lands and China have not policy failure" in allowing
Morrison was questioned as this is to be very clear in the islands. released the final version of the China-Solomons deal
by a journalist during an about what the various A draft of the pact, which the agreement. to be sealed.q