A huge amount of preparatory work had to be done. This has been a very difficult process. But I believe we now have a basis on which we can build successfully. And I hope we can now move forward with all possible speed. I hope in particular that we can at last move beyond procedural arguments to tackle the underlying issues.
Procedure is, of course, important.
But this is not the heart of the matter. Flexibility now can build trust and confidence, and enable us to get to the centre of the problems and deal with them. That is what we must do. I believe we can do so because of the commitment of parties and their leaders to this process over this long period of preparation. Against a, background of distrust and division, that has not been easy.