Talks on Northern Ireland issue fruitless

Richard Haass told a press conference Tuesday morning in Belfast that he is "undoubtedly disappointed that we didn't get a chance to reach compromise", adding that a basis for further advance has been laid. It was reported that Haass is coming back to the US. Meanwhile, according to diplomatic sources, an option of resuming talks in the new 2014 year is being considered. Five leading political parties of Northern Ireland discussed three main topics: conditions of holding traditional parades of unionists and Irish republicans in the future, the procedure of hanging UK flag on governmental buildings, and developing a unified historical assessment of events in Northern Ireland, Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. Since December 2012, the situation in Northern Ireland's domestic policy became strained due to differences between catholic and protestant community leaders.