Wednesday 2 July 2014

Fresh talks on NI peace process in Belfast


Politicians in Northern Ireland will convene today in a new bid to reach agreement on unresolved peace process issues.
A three-day session of intensive negotiations focused on long-standing disputes over flags, parades and the legacy of the past will begin at Stormont.
Delegations from the five parties in the power-sharing executive are trying to achieve some degree of progress and reduce community tensions before the biggest day of the loyal order marching season on 12 July.
In recent years serious rioting has broken out in north Belfast linked to a contentious Orange Order parade on a short stretch of road next to a nationalist neighbourhood.
The talks involving the Democratic Unionists, Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and Alliance Party will be facilitated by a senior civil servant.
The renewed talks bid comes at Stormont six months after marathon negotiations chaired by former US diplomat Richard Haass ended without agreement.
While draft proposals outlined by Dr Haass remain on the table, with the party leaders having met periodically to discuss the outstanding issues since January, efforts to strike a deal in his absence have made little progress.
While the talks are under way in Belfast, Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will meet Prime Minister David Cameron in London.
Afterwards the Sinn Féin leadership will have a separate meeting with Mr Cameron.
Party leader Gerry Adams has accused Mr Cameron of evading discussions with his party, describing his behaviour as deplorable.
He said it was deplorable that Mr Cameron had not sat down formally in Downing St with his party since taking office.

No comments:

Post a Comment