19 August 1999 Edition

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New appointment at NIO

Tony Blair has in recent weeks appointed a new NIO minister to the Six Counties.

George Howarth, who arrived in Belfast on 18 August, has been tasked with dealing with and quickly resolving the Drumcree issue. He is expected to meet with both representatives from the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition and the Orange Order within the next few days. The direct involvement of Howarth is said to be a sign of the British Prime Minister's determination to find a speedy resolution to the current deadlock.

Sources within the Orange Order say that they will co-operate fully and want to find a resolution.Whether or not the Orange Order leadership will in fact follow through remains to be seen.

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