Northern Irish, South Africa Leaders in Secret Peace Discussion with Iraqi Parties (Tom Hayden)

[kpete]

Tom Hayden
Northern Irish, South Africa Leaders in Secret Peace Discussion with Iraqi Parties
Posted September 28, 2007 | 05:43 PM (EST)

Sunni and Shi'a leaders began a potential peace process at secret meetings with leaders of the new Northern Ireland and South Africa one month, signing draft set of principles which resemble the protocols that guided the peace settlements in those two countries.

Chairing the closed meetings near Helsinki were Martin McGuinness, the former Irish Republican Army commander, lead negotiator with the British, and now Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and Roelf Meyer, former leader of the pro-apartheid National Party in South Africa's peace negotiations. The Irish delegation also included former IRA hunger striker Leo Green, minister Jeffrey Donaldson, former Stormont speaker Lord Alderdice, and former loyalist paramilitary leader Billy Hutchison. South African participants included ANC leaders Mac Maharaj and Rashid Ismail, key participants in the military and political negotiations in South Africa.

The Iraq delegations' names have not been released but reportedly included six Sunni and nine Shi'a who signed a statement of principles. About 30 Iraqis were present, including Akram al-Hakim, minister of national reconciliation for the Baghdad government, representatives of Moktada al-Sadr, Sunni leader Adnan al-Dulaimi, and Humam Hammoudi, the Shi'a chairman of the Baghdad parliament's foreign affairs committee.

.................

At this point, virtually no American media outlets have reported the meeting, despite the importance of the parties in attendance.

more at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/northern-irish-south-afr_b_66381.html

[ourbluenation]

1. I'm listening to the Afro Celt Sound System right now. what a coinkidink

the irish saved civilization, ya know.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Great idea. They would understand more then almost anyone else.

[ourbluenation]

5. I think this is a wonderful development. POTENTIAL PEACE PROCESS!!!!

Not only has this been given no media coverage, it seems less interesting to the DU than, say, arguing about Hillary ad nauseum.

[Pirate Smile]

6. I kicked and nominated it as soon as I saw it. I think it is very big.

The best hope for them to ever get to where they can live together peacefully is by doing what happened in South Africa and Northern Ireland.

I wonder who initiated this.

[ourbluenation]

3. evening k-pete kick

can't believe how this one sunk.

[scarletwoman]

4. I'll kick too (& vote to recommend)... (nt)

[Pirate Smile]

7. Kick

[gateley]

8. Peace discussions with the Iraqis? Impossible. Just ask Bush and Cheney. K&R