Richard Haass says plan would leave NI much better off
Meghan O'Sullivan and Richard Haass chaired a series of round-table talks Proposals to resolve contentious issues would leave people in Northern Ireland "considerably better off," according to US diplomat Richard Haass.
Months of negotiations about parades, flags and the legacy of the Troubles ended on New Year's Eve with no deal.
Dr Haass and co-chair Prof Meghan O'Sullivan have published a two-page summary of their blueprint.
They say the 40-page draft agreement tackles "the difficult issues that continue to divide society".
"It is the product of work informed by a sense of urgency given the tension and violence of the past year and the need to contend with the past before the passage of time makes this even more difficult," they said.
"It is not self-implementing, but requires approval, resources, and support for implementation in Northern Ireland and, for certain elements, in Westminster and elsewhere."
Earlier on Monday, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness claimed unionists were allowing "negative elements in the Orange Order" to set their agenda on the Haass proposals.
Mr McGuinness said any working group on the Haass proposals should ensure the implementation of the document as it stands, rather than seeking to reopen its contents for fresh negotiations.
The Orange Order described Mr McGuinness's comments as "bogus".
"While the issues concerned are very difficult to resolve, and have proved to be so, we pray a fair and balanced resolution can still be found in keeping with a genuinely shared future," a spokesman said.
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