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Talks on Northern Ireland issue fruitless

Meanwhile, according to diplomatic sources, an option of resuming talks in the new 2014 year is being considered

© EPA/PAUL MCERLANE

LONDON, December 31. /ITAR-TASS/. Months-long efforts of Northern Ireland’s political forces to adopt a document on further stabilization have fruitlessly ended overnight on Tuesday. Thus, the negotiations that started in June 2013, brokered by famous US diplomat Richard Haass, did not bring the expected success.

Richard Haass told a press conference Tuesday morning in Belfast that he is “undoubtedly disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to reach compromise”, adding that a basis for further advance has been laid. It was reported that Haass is coming back to the US.

Meanwhile, according to diplomatic sources, an option of resuming talks in the new 2014 year is being considered.

Five leading political parties of Northern Ireland discussed three main topics: conditions of holding traditional parades of unionists and Irish republicans in the future, the procedure of hanging UK flag on governmental buildings, and developing a unified historical assessment of events in Northern Ireland.

Since December 2012, the situation in Northern Ireland’s domestic policy became strained due to differences between catholic and protestant community leaders.

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