Sleep Deprived Diplomacy
It's Thursday and the politicians are back at Hillsborough in the negotiations. One talks insider just told me there seemed to be a constructive atmosphere about the place in contrast to yesterday's depression. At least the governments can take heart from the fact that the politicians are still there. But are they just going through the motions until Friday's deadline. Everything will depend on the relationship or lack of it between the DUP and Sinn Fein.
I confess I am only just setting off towards the talks - all that sleep deprivation finally caught up with me. It made me wonder what impact it had on Gordon Brown. Everyone is poring over a leaked e-mail from the Americans about the Afghan President Hamid Karzai not being trustworthy. Instead they should take a look at this leaked transcript from the Afghan summit to ascertain whether the Hillsborough experience took its toll on the PM.
"Karzai: At some point foreign forces will have to hand over to the Afgan National Army.
Brown: I was thinking of early March, with the full transfer at the start of May.
Karzai: That sounds a little soon, Prime Minister. And you know we will need long term economic assistance.
Brown: I have £800 million quid knocking about that someone else is not interested in taking off me, but I can't let you have it until Saturday.
Karzai: That is very prompt, Prime Minister, although I think our long term needs may require greater resourcing. And what about the Taliban?
Brown: Sort it out locally. And if not just let them follow their traditional route through the Khyber pass."
On the subject of parades, one aspect of the negotiations that has puzzled me is the mention of mediation as if it is a totally new concept. Visit the Parades Commission whose job is to promote local dialogue and compromise. But then they are linked to the Parades Commission so the Orange Order won't officially work with them even though some individual Orangemen do. But if they were attached to a new Conflict Resolution Abritration Panel then maybe they would be deemed acceptable. Or am I just talking acronyms?
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