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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| NI parties to hold round-table talks with Richard Haass | NI parties to hold round-table talks with Richard Haass |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The five Northern Ireland Executive parties are to hold round-table talks later on the latest proposals for dealing with parades, flags and the past. | The five Northern Ireland Executive parties are to hold round-table talks later on the latest proposals for dealing with parades, flags and the past. |
| Former US diplomat Richard Haass gave them a third draft document on Sunday. | Former US diplomat Richard Haass gave them a third draft document on Sunday. |
| The new, 30-page document recommends a separate process to deal with flags, as the parties could not reach consensus on the issue. | |
| Unionists had rejected a previous draft because of concerns about flags. | |
| Their 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. | Their 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. |
| Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said on Sunday that he was "not happy, but happier" with the latest proposals. | |
| "This Haass Three does not anticipate an agreement among the parties on how to deal with flags during the timeframe of this process and therefore there wouldn't be a link between flags and parades," Mr Nesbitt said. | |
| Christmas deadline | Christmas deadline |
| 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. | 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. |
| Writing on his Twitter account during the early hours of Monday morning, Dr Haass tweeted: "Long day, but not yet where we need to be. Much to be settled before Christmas; won't be easy, but surely worth it for Northern Ireland." | Writing on his Twitter account during the early hours of Monday morning, Dr Haass tweeted: "Long day, but not yet where we need to be. Much to be settled before Christmas; won't be easy, but surely worth it for Northern Ireland." |
| Politicians have been providing feedback on the proposals to Dr Haass and his team, and a revised version will form the basis for the round-table talks. | |
| Plans for councils to carry out an audit on what memorials they have on their premises has also been removed from the latest round of his proposals. | |
| The SDLP's Alex Attwood said that for his party, dealing with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland remained the most difficult issue. | |
| "The big test is going to be the past and dealing with that, as we've always said, in a comprehensive and ethical way, so that people know that in going forward the truth of the past is going to become known," Mr Attwood said. | |
| On Friday, Dr Haass said he would leave "no stone unturned" in an effort to reach an agreement with the parties before Christmas. | |
| 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. |