17/07/2013

All-Party Group Chair Visits NI

Former US envoy to Northern Ireland Dr Richard Haass is in Northern Ireland today ahead of his appointment as chair of an all-party group being established to deal with divisive issues such as flags, emblems and parading.

Dr Haass is to meet with political leaders to begin discussions as to how to move forward.

The group intends to come up with a solution to the political problems in Northern Ireland by Christmas this year.

Dr Haass was the agreed first choice as chairman to the group among the five parties represented in the Executive.

The First Minister and deputy First Minister said: "We are deeply grateful that an international figure of Dr Haass’s standing has agreed to facilitate these important discussions which we hope will provide long term and sustainable solutions that are in the best interests of the community."

Dr Haass was US Envoy to Northern Ireland from 2001-03 and is President of the Council on Foreign Relations, a US based independent think tank.

(IT/CD)

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