#peace-process

#peace-process

I was absolutely delighted to welcome Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly to Belfast today. She's here for a packed visit over the next couple of days, many community events. It was my honour as First Minister to welcome her to Stormont Castle. She is very much fulfilling her pledge that she made to be a president for all, to make her first official visit to the north. It was just great to have her here today. I believe that her whole campaign was about hope, about opportunity. It was about inclusion, it was about unity, it was about building for the future, and I think that we are going to enjoy a very good relationship with her throughout her tenure as Uachtarán na hÉireann.

It took decades for it to be put together. You have to go back to Father Alec Reid, Father Des Wilson, myself, John Hume and the endeavour to put together an alternative to armed struggle.

After over four decades of waging an armed anti-capitalist struggle for Kurdish self-determination against Turkey's government, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has declared an end to the conflict and initiated a disarmament process.

The PKK announced in May that it would disband and renounce armed conflict, ending four decades of hostilities.

The recent conflict between Israel and Iran has complicated the ongoing situation in Gaza, making diplomatic negotiations more urgent yet challenging. The US-brokered ceasefire may provide a slight opening for peace talks, but the humanitarian crisis persists. Qatar's renewed mediation efforts aim to address the dire conditions in Gaza. However, skepticism remains regarding the effectiveness of these initiatives in achieving lasting peace.

Israel's Defense Minister stated that the establishment of new settlements reinforces Israel's historical claim to the West Bank and serves as a response to Palestinian terrorism.