Bush Names Haass to Engage in Northern Ireland Peace ProcessUS President George W. Bush nominated Thursday State Department policy planning director Richard Haass to "take the lead on U.S. engagement and support of the Northern Ireland peace process," the White House said.White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said: "The United States will continue to support full implementation of the Good Friday agreement and stands ready to assist the process in any way that the British and Irish governments and the parties deem useful." Fleischer said Haass will not carry the title of special envoy, but an ambassador at large instead. As part of a "streamlining" effort, Powell eliminated 23 of 55 special envoy positions, including special envoys for the Middle East, the Balkans, the Americas and other regions. |
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