IRELAND: US PRESIDENT CLINTON PEACE MISSION VISIT PREVIEW

(28 Nov 1995) English/Nat President Clinton embarks on his latest international peace mission on Wednesday as he starts a visit to Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But the man who brought peace to the Middle East and Bosnia may find it harder to achieve a breakthrough in a peace process which has little to show after more than a year. APTV went to the Northern Ireland county of South Armagh - a fiercely Republican, mainly Catholic area where many want to end British rule. While the ceasefires have brought calm, there is still an air of tension as people wait for the elusive permanent peace. Nowhere in Northern Ireland is the fragility of the peace process more apparent than here in South Armagh on the bitterly disputed border with the Irish Republic. Before last year's ceasefires, a posting in these picturesque hills was among the most dangerous in the British Army. The rough terrain and sophistication of the local IRA (Irish Republican Army) made this 'bandit country' for the security forces who patrolled here. It's widely acknowledged that republicans in this area are more hard-line and sceptical than their urban counterparts. Any breakthrough President Clinton's visit provides could be vetoed by them, if it appears to lean too far towards the mainly Protestant and pro-British Unionist parties. Despite the ceasefire, the helicopters still fly and the spy cameras still look down on the citizens of Crossmaglen as they go about their daily business. This is the capital of 'bandit country', a staunchly republican town where statues and signs glorify the IRA in open defiance of the British presence. Not far from here, just a few weeks ago, the Irish Army discovered a large bomb, primed and apparently destined for a target north of the border. A hardline republican splinter group were blamed. If it had gone off the whole validity of the peace would have been questioned. Sinn Fein, the IRA's political wing, has made it clear it supports the peace process but the issue of giving up republican weapons remains the stumbling block on the road to peace. The British government wants the IRA to start decommissioning arms before Sinn Fein can take part in peace talks, and it rejects any comparison between so-called terrorist arms and those of the British security forces. Sinn Fein is equally adamant, and the Irish government also believes Britain has to shift its position - a stance supported by ordinary republicans. SOUNDBITE: "I mean the British Army are still here, their barracks, their outpost, their helicopters.... nothing has changed expect that they feel safer.... nobody is attacking them. SUPER CAPTION: Jim McAllister, Sinn Fein councillor As British and Irish officials frantically attempt to kickstart the process Sinn Fein seem to be looking to Washington to break the impasse. SOUNDBITE: The American voice is a powerful voice in world politics so I think a little more from the American administration from Mr Clinton to the British administration to John Major would go a long way towards fixing Britains eyes on what it must achieve in Ireland which is self determination for the Irish people. Which of course will entail a removal of the British presence, I think that this is the stumbling block of Britain SUPER CAPTION: Jim McAllister, Sinn Fein councillor For Protestants in South Armagh the biggest fear is a return to violence. The community has suffered. Many have moved away. Those who have stayed have seen friends and neighbours murdered. SOUNDBITE: SUPER CAPTION: Roy Harpur, Protestant farmer Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...