N.IRELAND: DAVID TRIMBLE ELECTED LEADER OF ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY

(9 Sep 1995) English/Nat
David Trimble has been elected as the new leader of Northern Ireland's predominantly protestant Ulster Unionist party, which believes the province should remain as part of the U K.
He is considered the most hardline of the five candidates, and there are fears his election could hinder the fragile peace process.
Trimble, who replaces James Molyneaux who resigned last week, has reiterated the need for paramilitary groups, such as the I-R-A, to move towards the decommissioning of their weapons.
The leadership election had been seen as a chance for the Unionists to give their verdict on Northern Ireland's peace process.
The favourite, John Taylor, was regarded as a moderate who would support the talks with nationalists seeking closer ties to the Irish Republic.
But the U-U-P's decision to elect David Trimble is a rebuke to the negotiations.
UPSOUND:
"Mister Trimble got 466 votes..."
(Applause)
Trimble - elected to parliament five years ago - defeated Taylor in the third round of voting.
UPSOUND:
"I therefore give you your new leader, Mister David Trimble..."
(Applause)
Trimble has said he will not talk to Sinn Fein - the I-R-A's political wing - while the guerilla organisation still holds its weapons.
The British government's demand that the I-R-A give up weapons before all-party talks take place has been a major stumbling block and resulted in the postponement of an Anglo-Irish meeting last week.
SOUNDBITE:
"Not really sure how best to address you on this occasion. I am very deeply conscious of the honour and the privilege - and the duty and the responsibility - you're placed upon me. I only hope that I can return - in some measure - the expectation that obviously rests behind this office and this duty."
SUPER CAPTION: David Trimble, Ulster Unionists Leader
Trimble's profile rose during the summer when he forged closer ties with the hard-line unionist Reverend Ian Paisley, leader of the most extreme pro-British party.
He adopted a tough stance when protestant marchers belonging to the Orange Order attempted to march through a Catholic area at Lurgan.
They were confronted by police who feared violence if the march proceeded. But Trimble strongly supported the marchers who each year commemorate the victory of the protestant William of Orange over the Catholic King James in the 17th century.
Immediately after his election Trimble pledged to maintain his opposition to talks with armed groups.
SOUNDBITE:
"I think it's not just a matter of gestures, it's meeting the requirement that was clearly spelt out in the Downing Street declaration of being committed... sorry, of establishing a commitment to exclusively peaceful methods. That was the criteria set out by the British and Irish governments 18 months ago - it still has to be fulfilled."
The stalled peace talks were also being discussed in Washington where the British Northern Ireland Minister Michael Ancram met senior advisers to President Bill Clinton.
Clinton is reported to have put pressure on Britain to allow talks to go ahead before a surrender of arms, but Ancram maintained the government line.
SOUNDBITE:
"It has to be on the basis that you take the question of arms out of the political equation. In order to do that you have to have an agreement that arms are going to be decommissioned and - in our view - to make that credible you have to show that that process has in fact begun."
SUPER CAPTION: Michael Ancram, UK Northern Ireland Minister
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