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WORLD NEWS Monday 23 SepteMber 2019
EU's Juncker: Irish border controls needed in no-deal Brexit

By PAN PYLAS May, be scrapped. The so- or a no-deal departure by
LONDON (AP) — The Euro- called Irish backstop is ef- Oct. 19. That law has raised
pean Union will insist that fectively a guarantee that questions on exactly when
border controls be put up no border will go up on the the country will leave.
along the Irish border if Brit- island of Ireland by requir- Parliament is now suspend-
ain leaves the bloc without ing that Britain stick to EU ed until Oct. 14, just over
a deal and the British gov- trade rules — even though two weeks before the U.K.
ernment will be responsible it won't have any say in the is due to leave the EU. How-
for that, a top EU official formulation of those rules ever, it may be forced to
said. after Brexit — until the two return if the Supreme Court
Jean-Claude Juncker, the sides have negotiated a decides this week that
European Commission comprehensive trade deal. Johnson's request broke
president, told Sky News That would leave Britain the law when he suspend-
in an interview broadcast locked into the EU's orbit for ed Parliament.
Sunday that the blame for years. The Supreme Court is de-
that would rest squarely British lawmakers rejected ciding whether Johnson
on Britain. Border con- May's deal three times this European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker listens unlawfully shut Parliament
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 in Strasbourg, eastern France, as
trols could in theory go up year, with many doing so members of the European Parliament discuss the current state of to prevent lawmakers from
soon after Oct. 31, Britain's because of their opposition play of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. scrutinizing his plan to leave
scheduled departure date. to the backstop. Associated Press the EU with or without a di-
Brussels was "in no way re- Johnson is trying to get the vorce deal. Opponents
sponsible" for the conse- EU to agree to replace the bers in July on the promise have passed a law that also accuse him of mis-
quences of a no-deal Brex- backstop with "alternative that the country will leave says the prime minister has leading Queen Elizabeth
it, Juncker told Sky News. arrangements" — a mix of the EU on Oct. 31 come to request an extension II, whose formal approval
"We have to make sure technology to replace bor- what may. to the Brexit date if Parlia- was needed to suspend
that the interests of the Eu- der checks and a common British lawmakers, however, ment does not back a deal the legislature.q
ropean Union and of the area for agricultural prod-
internal market will be pre- ucts and animals covering
served," he said. the whole island of Ireland.
How to maintain a friction- Juncker said he is open to
less border between EU alternative arrangements,
member Ireland and North- but noted that in a no-deal
ern Ireland, which is part of Brexit, an animal enter-
the United Kingdom, is the ing Northern Ireland could
thorniest issue in the Brexit then enter the EU via Ire-
discussions. An invisible bor- land if there are no border
der is a key component of controls.
1998's Good Friday peace "This will not happen," he
accord that brought said. "We have to preserve
peace in Northern Ireland the health and the safety
after decades of sectarian of our citizens."
violence. Under the rules of the EU's
British Prime Minister Boris single market, goods and
Johnson is insisting that the people can move across
Irish border provision in the the 28 countries seamlessly.
Brexit deal negotiated by Johnson got elected by
his predecessor, Theresa Conservative Party mem-

Albania quake has 340

aftershocks, people

afraid to go home

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Durres.
Fear and safety hazards About 600 houses, most
kept many residents of Al- built before 1990, suffered
bania's capital of Tirana damage in the quake,
and the port city of Durres which also temporarily
out of their homes Sun- knocked out power and
day after an earthquake water facilities in Tirana,
the day before injured 105 Durres and some western
people and damaged and central districts, au-
hundreds of buildings. thorities said.
Albania's Institute of Geo- The U.S. Geological Survey
sciences, Energy, Water and the European-Mediter-
and Environment said more ranean Seismological Cen-
than 340 aftershocks have ter recorded the rupture on
followed the 5.8 magni- Albania's western Adriatic
tude earthquake that hit Sea coast as a magnitude
Saturday afternoon near 5.6 quake.q