Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney has called on the international community to support and encourage Irish unity.
Speaking after being a guest at a conference in Paris organised by the French Communist Party, Mr McCartney (pictured) Brexit had once more brought into sharp focus the contradiction of partition at the heart of Irish politics.
He added: “This directly challenges democracy and Irish national interests.
“However, it has also created an equally unprecedented political and civic discussion in Ireland about the future.
“We believe that these new challenges need to be converted into a positive, national conversation about how the constitutional, political and economic future of the island can be reimagined and redesigned.
“The Irish Government should urgently convene an All-Ireland forum representative of political parties and civic society on the island to agree and bring forward concrete proposals to secure the north of Ireland’s place in the EU.
“The peace process was facilitated and supported by international good will, support and diplomacy and the international community still has an essential role to play.
“A new phase of political change has arrived and the significant strategic political influence of the international community should now assist with planning for the transition towards a new agreed, united Ireland.”
Mr McCartney concluded: “It is time to end the division of Ireland and prepare the transition to Irish unity. A positive, international axis to encourage, persuade for, and support that aim is now required.”
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