Iraqi politicians to visit Stormont

Updated: 19:17, Wednesday, 24 October 2007

A delegation of Iraqi parliamentarians is to travel to Stormont to study power sharing in Northern Ireland.

1 of 1Stormont - Devolution is on the talks agenda tomorrow
Stormont - Devolution is on the talks agenda tomorrow

Sunni and Shia political representatives will meet First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness tomorrow on the day they launch a programme for government for the Stormont Executive and Finance Minister Peter Robinson unveils his first budget.

The visit follows four days of talks last month in Finland, which saw Mr McGuinness, Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson and South African politicians brief Iraqi leaders on their peace and political processes.

The delegation includes Khalid Atiyah, the first deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, and the visit is being sponsored by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness said today they were looking forward to briefing the Iraqi delegation.

Among the issues the delegation is expected to raise is how devolution might be developed for provinces within Iraq.

The discussions are also expected to address issues surrounding local government and conflict resolution.

Live Player

  • Next
  • 16:00 - 16:10

    Nuacht RTÉ

  • 17:20 - 18:00

    Sinn Fein Ard Fheis: The Leader's Speech

  • Later
  • 18:01 - 18:30

    RTÉ News: Six One and Weather

  • 23:20 - 23:40

    RTÉ News and Weather