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Haass talks: DUP mixed reaction to draft document Haass talks: Peter Robinson says draft plan 'unacceptable'
(about 3 hours later)
The draft document on the way forward on flags, parades and the past "has good and bad" parts, a DUP MP has said. Draft proposals on Northern Ireland's past, parades and flags are unacceptable to the DUP, its leader Peter Robinson has said.
Jeffrey Donaldson was speaking after an initial reading of the proposals drawn up by US diplomat Richard Haass. The five main Stormont parties have been examining the document drawn up by US diplomat Richard Haass.
The five main Stormont parties have been examining the document. While the first minister said he thought there could be progress on parades and the past, on flags things seemed to be "moving backwards".
Mr Donaldson said there were some parts they liked and "other elements we will have significant problems with". He added that the document was "by no means the end product". However, Mr Robinson said he believed agreement was still possible.
Following reports of a row between the DUP and the Haass team last Thursday, Mr Donaldson said there were "now very substantial changes to the document they were presented with then". "Nobody is throwing the towel in at this stage," he said.
"I don't think there's anything that overly surprised us, some things that you may characterise as disappointing, but nevertheless we recognise that there's still some way to go in this process," Mr Donaldson said. "We are just saying there is not a set of proposals that we can support or agree to or recommend."
"There are very substantial changes to the document that we saw last week - we welcome that, I think many of those changes reflect the concerns that we had. The draft document was examined by DUP party officers on Monday, but Mr Robinson said there was no point in bringing it to his assembly team as they would not endorse proposals which were "unhelpful and unworkable".
"That does not mean they have all been dealt with satisfactorily, there remain issues that I think will have to be refined and addressed and resolved in the coming days.
"I still think there is the possibility of agreement, but I think we have a way to go yet before we reach that point."
'Robust ideas''Robust ideas'
"If I thought that was the final paper, there would be steam coming out of my ears," he said.
"But it is not the final paper and we still have work to do, and we are up to doing that work."
SDLP MLA Alex Attwood said the document had "strength and depth".SDLP MLA Alex Attwood said the document had "strength and depth".
His party leader Alasdair McDonnell added: "It's very early days in that there'll be three or four days of intense debate, discussing, dissecting and deciding exactly what some of the words mean, because there's some very robust ideas and ideas that we're hopeful about.His party leader Alasdair McDonnell added: "It's very early days in that there'll be three or four days of intense debate, discussing, dissecting and deciding exactly what some of the words mean, because there's some very robust ideas and ideas that we're hopeful about.
"We have to then get to the stage where all the parties are in sync on all of these things and that will be difficult."We have to then get to the stage where all the parties are in sync on all of these things and that will be difficult.
"We're hopeful, we want to see progress and there's room here for progress.""We're hopeful, we want to see progress and there's room here for progress."
'Thorniest issue''Thorniest issue'
Paraphrasing Margaret Thatcher, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said things were "more out, out, out and we're a long way from in, in, in".Paraphrasing Margaret Thatcher, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said things were "more out, out, out and we're a long way from in, in, in".
He added: "I don't think it'll be any secret to people that flags has emerged as the thorniest issue, that remains the case in terms of this first draft (document).He added: "I don't think it'll be any secret to people that flags has emerged as the thorniest issue, that remains the case in terms of this first draft (document).
"You can expect that there are issues that are being floated perhaps that you have to accept are there today, but hopefully will not be there tomorrow."You can expect that there are issues that are being floated perhaps that you have to accept are there today, but hopefully will not be there tomorrow.
"All things are possible if people come at it honestly with a spirit of generosity towards each other, but also determined that the outcomes are fair. I will remain optimistic until it's over.""All things are possible if people come at it honestly with a spirit of generosity towards each other, but also determined that the outcomes are fair. I will remain optimistic until it's over."
While the parties examine the proposals at Stormont, talks chairman Dr Haass will be in London meeting the Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and Downing Street officials. While the parties examined the proposals at Stormont, talks chairman Dr Haass had travelled to London to meet the Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and Downing Street officials.
Dr Haass is expected to brief them on progress to date. 'Intense'
Dr Haass was expected to brief them on progress to date.
He will return on Tuesday for another round of talks with Northern Ireland politicians.He will return on Tuesday for another round of talks with Northern Ireland politicians.
Dr Haass has previously said he is determined to bring the talks to a head by the end of the year.Dr Haass has previously said he is determined to bring the talks to a head by the end of the year.
Five rooms have been set aside inside the Stormont Hotel in Belfast on Monday for the political parties to examine Dr Haass's draft document. Five rooms were set aside inside the Stormont Hotel in Belfast on Monday for the political parties to examine Dr Haass's draft document.
The parties have been told not to bring in any phones or other communication devices, nor to leave with any copies of the draft. The parties were told not to bring in any phones or other communication devices, nor to leave with any copies of the draft.
From Wednesday, the discussions are expected to move up a gear as Dr Haass's team pushes towards an agreed conclusion.From Wednesday, the discussions are expected to move up a gear as Dr Haass's team pushes towards an agreed conclusion.
The US diplomat returned to Northern Ireland last Monday for what he said would be an "intense two weeks of deliberations and negotiations".The US diplomat returned to Northern Ireland last Monday for what he said would be an "intense two weeks of deliberations and negotiations".