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Blair: N Ireland talks fruitful
13/10/2006 19:39 - (SA)
St Andrews - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Friday that the parties at Northern Ireland talks have reached "the basis" for an agreement set to be approved next month.
The restoration of power sharing between Protestant and Catholic political parties, which have been suspended for four years, could be arranged by March 26, said Blair.
"On the basis of the text we will ask the parties to come back to us by November 10," he said.
"What essentially is happening here is that we are ensuring that before November 24 we have a fully worked out agreement, that is enshrined in legislation."
Also by that date, there should have been "the nomination of the first minister and deputy first minister in order to give everyone confidence that power sharing is to go ahead", said Blair.
He said there will then be a period until March in which the parties will prepare for government.
- AFP
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