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Richard Haass back in Belfast to resume talks Richard Haass back in Belfast to resume talks
(about 1 hour later)
Former US diplomat Richard Haass has returned to Belfast to resume talks aimed at solving some of Northern Ireland's most contentious issues.Former US diplomat Richard Haass has returned to Belfast to resume talks aimed at solving some of Northern Ireland's most contentious issues.
Dr Haass said he was back "for one final effort to help reach agreement".Dr Haass said he was back "for one final effort to help reach agreement".
Talks by the main parties on parades, the flying of the union flag and the legacy of past violence broke up without agreement on Christmas Eve.Talks by the main parties on parades, the flying of the union flag and the legacy of past violence broke up without agreement on Christmas Eve.
Talks co-chair Prof Meghan O'Sullivan said: "By Monday we will know whether an agreement is to be had or not."Talks co-chair Prof Meghan O'Sullivan said: "By Monday we will know whether an agreement is to be had or not."
Dr Haass said that the talks were "a final opportunity to come together in an agreement that we believe could and would change Northern Ireland for the better, both for individuals and for society writ large.Dr Haass said that the talks were "a final opportunity to come together in an agreement that we believe could and would change Northern Ireland for the better, both for individuals and for society writ large.
"We hope this opportunity is seized, as time does not work in anyone's favour."We hope this opportunity is seized, as time does not work in anyone's favour.
"The last year has shown that flags and parades have the potential to further inflame an already divided society."The last year has shown that flags and parades have the potential to further inflame an already divided society.
"Time also works against the ability to capture the past, as memory fades, as evidence is lost and lives end.""Time also works against the ability to capture the past, as memory fades, as evidence is lost and lives end."
Asked if this was his final effort, Dr Haass used an American phrase: "You either fish or you cut bait." He said that time had come.Asked if this was his final effort, Dr Haass used an American phrase: "You either fish or you cut bait." He said that time had come.
Dr Haass and Harvard professor Meghan O'Sullivan were brought to Northern Ireland in July by the first and deputy first ministers.Dr Haass and Harvard professor Meghan O'Sullivan were brought to Northern Ireland in July by the first and deputy first ministers.
They returned to the US for Christmas after talks broke up without agreement in the early hours on Christmas Eve.They returned to the US for Christmas after talks broke up without agreement in the early hours on Christmas Eve.
Six hours of talks with Northern Ireland's five main parties are to begin at 14:30 GMT on Saturday. Another session is scheduled to begin at 06:00 GMT on Monday. Six hours of talks with Northern Ireland's five main parties began at 14:30 GMT on Saturday. Another session is scheduled to begin at 06:00 GMT on Monday.
"By noon on Monday we will have had 12 hours of plenary, it will be hard at that point, given everything that will have gone before, to argue that the missing ingredient is more time," Dr Haass said."By noon on Monday we will have had 12 hours of plenary, it will be hard at that point, given everything that will have gone before, to argue that the missing ingredient is more time," Dr Haass said.
The parties were given a fifth draft of proposals from Dr Haass and Prof O'Sullivan on Friday night.The parties were given a fifth draft of proposals from Dr Haass and Prof O'Sullivan on Friday night.
'Close the gap' 'Terrible embarrassment'
Speaking ahead of Saturday's talks, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "I just think that for Richard Haass and Meghan O'Sullivan to leave here without making an agreement would be a terrible embarrassment for politicians, for the process, and would clearly show a lack of leadership qualities in terms of facing up to these very difficult challenges." Speaking ahead of Saturday's talks, First Minister Peter Robinson said: "There's a large part of the document I could readily bring to the party (DUP), there are other elements that render the rest unworkable.
The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson said: "There is still, I think, the prospect of reaching agreement on at least two of the three areas that have been under discussion. "I hope he (Haass) will be able to see a conclusion and we're still optimistic it can be reached, but it won't be reached by us fudging issues or doing something more abruptly than we would otherwise want to."
"That relates to how we deal with our troubled past and the issue of parades and I think that if we all make the effort to try and close the gap we can reach agreement on those two issues. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "I just think that for Richard Haass and Meghan O'Sullivan to leave here without making an agreement would be a terrible embarrassment for politicians, for the process, and would clearly show a lack of leadership qualities in terms of facing up to these very difficult challenges."
"In respect of flags it's going to be more difficult."
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said: "Failure isn't really an option if you consider that Richard Haass was invited here by us, by the parties, by the first and deputy first ministers.
"All of these issues are solvable, all these issues can be sorted out. So I think very much that a deal is possible if we bend our will to achieve it."
Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt has said his party "accepts the ongoing challenge of seeking a fair and agreed outcome to the Haas talks".
Difficult issue
Tensions over flags were heightened in December 2012 when Belfast City Council voted to only fly the union flag from city hall and other council buildings on 18 designated days - previously it had flown continuously.Tensions over flags were heightened in December 2012 when Belfast City Council voted to only fly the union flag from city hall and other council buildings on 18 designated days - previously it had flown continuously.
The decision was condemned by unionist politicians, and it sparked street protests, some of which were violent and led to the injury of more than 100 police officers.The decision was condemned by unionist politicians, and it sparked street protests, some of which were violent and led to the injury of more than 100 police officers.
BBC Ireland correspondent Chris Buckler said the parties seemed deadlocked over displaying flags and the issue was likely to be moved into a completely separate process.BBC Ireland correspondent Chris Buckler said the parties seemed deadlocked over displaying flags and the issue was likely to be moved into a completely separate process.
Even with an extra few days of negotiation, achieving a deal on that particular issue would be a challenge, he added.Even with an extra few days of negotiation, achieving a deal on that particular issue would be a challenge, he added.
Dealing with the legacy and aftermath of Northern Ireland's Troubles is another difficult issue to resolve.Dealing with the legacy and aftermath of Northern Ireland's Troubles is another difficult issue to resolve.
Unsolved murdersUnsolved murders
More than 3,500 people died during the Troubles, and in almost 3,300 cases there were no prosecutions.More than 3,500 people died during the Troubles, and in almost 3,300 cases there were no prosecutions.
A Historical Enquiries Team (HET) was set up to investigate unsolved Troubles murders, but has itself proved controversial.A Historical Enquiries Team (HET) was set up to investigate unsolved Troubles murders, but has itself proved controversial.
All political parties agree that the rights and feelings of victims should be at the centre of any process.All political parties agree that the rights and feelings of victims should be at the centre of any process.
What the process should be, and exactly how a victim is defined, however, have proved almost impossible to agree.What the process should be, and exactly how a victim is defined, however, have proved almost impossible to agree.
Parades meanwhile, are usually connected to the unionist, or Protestant, community.Parades meanwhile, are usually connected to the unionist, or Protestant, community.
Most are organised by the Orange Order or other religious/cultural organisations, and the majority are not contentious.Most are organised by the Orange Order or other religious/cultural organisations, and the majority are not contentious.
But those that pass by, or through, nationalist areas, can be controversial.But those that pass by, or through, nationalist areas, can be controversial.
Many nationalists feel that parading is an expression of historic unionist domination over nationalists in Northern Ireland.Many nationalists feel that parading is an expression of historic unionist domination over nationalists in Northern Ireland.