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Deadline day for Northern Ireland Haass talks Final day of NI Richard Haass talks under way
(35 minutes later)
Talks between Northern Ireland's five main parties and former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass in a bid to resolve three contentious issues are to resume later. Talks between Northern Ireland's five main parties and former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass in a bid to resolve three contentious issues have resumed for the final day.
A deadline for agreement on the talks about the past, parades and flags has been set for Monday. A deadline for agreement on the talks about the past, parades and flags has been set for Monday evening.
Overnight a sixth draft of the proposals was delivered to the parties.
The round table session was delayed on Monday morning to give the parties more time to review the latest document.
The session which was due to begin at 06:00 GMT was put back to 10:00 GMT.
Arriving at the talks Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said he was "fairly confident" a deal could be reached.
"We are hopeful we can do a deal today," he said.
"These issues will not go away so now is the time to deal with them."
On Sunday, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said the talks were "80 to 90% over the line".On Sunday, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said the talks were "80 to 90% over the line".
Delegations from the parties - except the DUP - met Dr Haass separately on Sunday.Delegations from the parties - except the DUP - met Dr Haass separately on Sunday.
The DUP did not take part as it does not negotiate on Sundays.The DUP did not take part as it does not negotiate on Sundays.
Talks between all five parties and Dr Haass had ended on Saturday without agreement.Talks between all five parties and Dr Haass had ended on Saturday without agreement.
The parties will meet again from 10:00 GMT on Monday after they were given a final draft of proposals on Sunday night.
"I would say 80, maybe even 90% of it, is ready to go over the line," the UUP's Mr Nesbitt said.
"So there's not a lot left, but what is left is serious from our point of view."
'Humiliation risk''Humiliation risk'
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said that Dr Haass and his co-chair, Prof Meghan O'Sullivan, must not be allowed to return to the United States without securing a deal.Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said that Dr Haass and his co-chair, Prof Meghan O'Sullivan, must not be allowed to return to the United States without securing a deal.
"It would be a humiliation if Richard Haass and Meghan O'Sullivan left here against the backdrop of no agreement," he said."It would be a humiliation if Richard Haass and Meghan O'Sullivan left here against the backdrop of no agreement," he said.
The Alliance Party and the SDLP also urged the other parties to make a deal in time for Monday's deadline.The Alliance Party and the SDLP also urged the other parties to make a deal in time for Monday's deadline.
The DUP met with Dr Haass on Saturday night. The party's Jeffrey Donaldson said he hoped a deal could be reached.The DUP met with Dr Haass on Saturday night. The party's Jeffrey Donaldson said he hoped a deal could be reached.
The leader of the UUP, Mike Nesbitt, said he was happy with most of the document.
"I would say 80, maybe even 90% of it, is ready to go over the line," he said.
"So there's not a lot left, but what is left is serious from our point of view."
A spokeswoman for the US National Security Council said the talks were at a critical juncture and the goal remained to achieve agreement before the end of the year.A spokeswoman for the US National Security Council said the talks were at a critical juncture and the goal remained to achieve agreement before the end of the year.
"We call upon the leadership of the five parties to make the compromises necessary to conclude an agreement now, one that would help heal the divisions that continue to stand between the people of Northern Ireland and the future they deserve," she said."We call upon the leadership of the five parties to make the compromises necessary to conclude an agreement now, one that would help heal the divisions that continue to stand between the people of Northern Ireland and the future they deserve," she said.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, said she wished the parties well in the final hours of their talks.The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, said she wished the parties well in the final hours of their talks.
"I hope all sides will be able to show flexibility to make an agreement possible on these divisive issues," she said."I hope all sides will be able to show flexibility to make an agreement possible on these divisive issues," she said.
"From my many conversations on this over recent days, I am encouraged about the prospects for agreement, although some key issues are yet to be resolved, particularly on the past.""From my many conversations on this over recent days, I am encouraged about the prospects for agreement, although some key issues are yet to be resolved, particularly on the past."
Dr Haass and Prof O'Sullivan were brought to Northern Ireland in July by the first and deputy first ministers.Dr Haass and Prof 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 of Christmas Eve.They returned to the US for Christmas after talks broke up without agreement in the early hours of Christmas Eve.
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.