Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt MLA has said that his five person team for upcoming talks is on standby awaiting confirmation of when the talks will take place.
Mr Nesbitt said:
“Two and half weeks ago I went to the Party Leaders’ meeting and put it to the others that after a year of no success in finding resolutions to the issues of Parades and Protests, Flags and Dealing with the Past we should try a different format and decouple the issues. This would potentially allow us to come to an agreement on parades before the marching season gets underway.
“A paper came to us two days later which suggested that this was what was going to happen. OFMdFM were to put together a support network including legal and legislative experts which the Haass talks were sadly lacking.
“Each of the Parties were asked to put together a five person team for talks. We have done that and they are on standby. We await word of when and where these talks will take place.’