Meghan O'Sullivan Named Vice-Chair of All-Party Talks in Northern Ireland

Meghan O'Sullivan, Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School and head of the Belfer Center's Geopolitics of Energy Project, has been named vice-chair of the All-Party Talks in Northern Ireland. She will join Council on Foreign Relations President Richard N. Haass in chairing the talks aimed at addressing some of the most divisive issues affecting Northern Ireland.

Haass and O'Sullivan were introduced in Belfast by First Minister Peter D. Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness who noted that the five main political parties selected Haass to serve as independent chair of the All-Party Panel process. O'Sullivan was Haass's chief adviser on Northern Ireland during his tenure as special U.S. envoy to support the Northern Ireland peace process from 2001 to 2003.

"I am pleased to be returning to issues surrounding peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland," said O'Sullivan. "I look forward to working with Richard Haass and the leaders and people of Northern Ireland to tackle the thorny issues of parades, flags and other symbols, and the past. We plan to build on the tremendous progress that has been made in recent years."

The panel is charged with presenting a set of recommendations supported by all of the parties before the end of this year.