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Northern Ireland parties receive more Richard Haass proposals Northern Ireland parties receive more Richard Haass proposals
(about 3 hours later)
Former US diplomat Richard Haass has given the five Northern Ireland Executive parties revised proposals on how to deal with parades, flags and the past. Former US diplomat Richard Haass has given the five NI Executive parties revised proposals on how to deal with parades, flags and the past.
Sources suggest this latest draft document recommends a separate process to deal with flags.Sources suggest this latest draft document recommends a separate process to deal with flags.
An earlier draft was rejected by unionists who had major concerns particularly over this issue.An earlier draft was rejected by unionists who had major concerns particularly over this issue.
This latest version will form the basis for more round-table talks on Monday. Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said he was happier with the latest proposals about the flying of flags.
"This document does not anticipate an agreement among the parties on how to deal with flags during the timeframe of this process," he said.
"Therefore, there wouldn't be a link between flags and parades."
Unionist objections had centred on the suggestion of a licensing scheme that would have meant permits being issued for the flying of flags on the streets.
The Ulster Unionist Party still has concerns about how this latest document approaches the issue of Northern Ireland's past.
'Truth'
SDLP assembly member Alex Attwood said the past was the most important issue.
"The big test is going to be the past, and dealing with that in a comprehensive and ethical way, so that people know that in going forward, the truth of the past is going to become known," he said.
Politicians are continuing to provide feedback on the proposals to Dr Haass and his team, and a revised version will form the basis for more round-table talks on Monday.
The DUP said it would not carry out any negotiations on a Sunday, but this would not rule out a busy period after midnight and on Monday morning ahead of the talks that are expected to begin at 11:00 GMT.
Dr Haass and Harvard professor Meghan O'Sullivan were brought to Northern Ireland in July by the first and deputy first ministers, with an aim of finding consensus on a range of thorny issues by the end of the year.Dr Haass and Harvard professor Meghan O'Sullivan were brought to Northern Ireland in July by the first and deputy first ministers, with an aim of finding consensus on a range of thorny issues by the end of the year.
Lord Eames, who co-chaired a previous attempt to deal with the legacy of the Troubles, said Northern Ireland's past was the "interlocking theme" of the talks and needed to be "unravelled once and for all". Meanwhile, Lord Eames, who co-chaired a previous attempt to deal with the legacy of the Troubles, said Northern Ireland's past was the "interlocking theme" of the talks and needed to be "unravelled once and for all".
"Our dark days, as we call it, are constantly eating away at our hopes for the future, and my hope and prayer is that the Haass talks will produce some formula that will allow us to see justice as well as unravelling this morass in the past," he said."Our dark days, as we call it, are constantly eating away at our hopes for the future, and my hope and prayer is that the Haass talks will produce some formula that will allow us to see justice as well as unravelling this morass in the past," he said.
"A new generation is now in Northern Ireland that has not had to endure what we have seen in the past - they have a right to look forward to a future where there is some sort of security, stability and hope."A new generation is now in Northern Ireland that has not had to endure what we have seen in the past - they have a right to look forward to a future where there is some sort of security, stability and hope.
"I believe this Haass process has the opportunity now, if only we have the courage politically to grasp these possibilities, to put these things to bed.""I believe this Haass process has the opportunity now, if only we have the courage politically to grasp these possibilities, to put these things to bed."
On Friday, Dr Haass said he would leave "no stone unturned" in an effort to reach an agreement with the parties before Christmas.On Friday, Dr Haass said he would leave "no stone unturned" in an effort to reach an agreement with the parties before Christmas.
"We have made real progress on parades and the past," he said.
"We shall see where we come out on flags," he added, suggesting that this was the sticking point.
Dr Haass said it would be "a real loss" if agreement could not be reached.
"Much progress has been made and much remains to be resolved," he said. "We are getting close to crunch time."
He said it was now up to the parties and "how much they want agreement and how intolerable they find the status quo."He said it was now up to the parties and "how much they want agreement and how intolerable they find the status quo."