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US envoy and Northern Ireland parties to begin talks US envoy and Northern Ireland parties to begin talks
(about 2 hours later)
Former US presidential candidate Gary Hart begins talks on Wednesday with the leaders of Northern Ireland’s parties aimed at breaking the deadlock on issues over parades, flags and the legacy of the Troubles. Former US presidential candidate Gary Hart begins talks on Wednesday with the leaders of Northern Ireland’s parties aimed at breaking the deadlock on issues including parades, flags and the legacy of the Troubles.
The US envoy to the negotiations said that while no one underestimated the challenges ahead, Northern Ireland has already been on a “remarkable journey” during the peace process.The US envoy to the negotiations said that while no one underestimated the challenges ahead, Northern Ireland has already been on a “remarkable journey” during the peace process.
Hart, who was appointed to the chair the discussions by the Obama administration, said he wanted to “help the parties find a path that will allow compromise and renewed progress”.Hart, who was appointed to the chair the discussions by the Obama administration, said he wanted to “help the parties find a path that will allow compromise and renewed progress”.
Before his first meeting of the day with the nationalist SDLP, Hart added: “Working together, the parties can give Northern Ireland the stable, prosperous and shared future its people deserve.”Before his first meeting of the day with the nationalist SDLP, Hart added: “Working together, the parties can give Northern Ireland the stable, prosperous and shared future its people deserve.”
Among those he is scheduled to meet is deputy first minister and Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness. Among those he is scheduled to meet is the deputy first minister and Sinn Féin chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness.
The task facing Hart and the five main parties at Stormont has been underlined by the eruption of sectarian violence on a Protestant-Catholic interface in east Belfast over the past 72 hours.The task facing Hart and the five main parties at Stormont has been underlined by the eruption of sectarian violence on a Protestant-Catholic interface in east Belfast over the past 72 hours.
Homes in the Catholic Short Strand district were attacked by a large loyalist crowd on Tuesday night with a 70-year-old woman’s house among those damaged.Homes in the Catholic Short Strand district were attacked by a large loyalist crowd on Tuesday night with a 70-year-old woman’s house among those damaged.
This followed the severe beating of a Protestant teenager by nationalist youths on Monday in the same area.This followed the severe beating of a Protestant teenager by nationalist youths on Monday in the same area.
On Sunday up to 60 loyalist youths threw petrol bombs and other missiles at police officers close to the dividing line between the Short Strand and surrounding Protestant districts. On Sunday up to 60 young loyalists threw petrol bombs and other missiles at police officers close to the dividing line between the Short Strand and surrounding Protestant districts.
The latest violence along one of Belfast’s many sectarian faultlines highlights the divisions that still blight Northern Ireland despite the 20-year-old IRA and loyalist ceasefires and the power sharing administration in place since 2007.The latest violence along one of Belfast’s many sectarian faultlines highlights the divisions that still blight Northern Ireland despite the 20-year-old IRA and loyalist ceasefires and the power sharing administration in place since 2007.
The main issues at the talks, which are being held just a couple of miles from the scene of the current sectarian disorder, will focus on parades, flags and the past.The main issues at the talks, which are being held just a couple of miles from the scene of the current sectarian disorder, will focus on parades, flags and the past.
On parades, the main controversy centres on a banned Orange Order march in north Belfast, which is barred from passing the nationalist Ardoyne district.On parades, the main controversy centres on a banned Orange Order march in north Belfast, which is barred from passing the nationalist Ardoyne district.
The issue of flags concerns Belfast city council’s decision to restrict the flying of the union flag on City Hall to 18 designated days instead of all year.The issue of flags concerns Belfast city council’s decision to restrict the flying of the union flag on City Hall to 18 designated days instead of all year.
Arguably the most contentious area is the legacy of the Troubles and how police, politicians and victims’ groups deal with the deaths of almost 4,000 people in the conflict, most of which are still classified as unsolved crimes.Arguably the most contentious area is the legacy of the Troubles and how police, politicians and victims’ groups deal with the deaths of almost 4,000 people in the conflict, most of which are still classified as unsolved crimes.