US President George Bush's new special adviser on Northern Ireland arrived in Belfast tonight on the eve of crucial talks attempting to find a way of restoring devolution to the North.
Mr Michael Reiss is due to hold two days of talks with local parties before travelling on to London and Dublin for discussions with the British and Irish governments.
Mr Reiss said he was present to "listen and learn" and would monitor progress in the review of the Belfast Agreement beginning tomorrow.
He said he would stand ready to travel to Northern Ireland whenever his presence would be helpful.
Mr Reiss, who replaces long term special envoy Mr Richard Haass, said while there had been an end to widespread violence there was "understandable frustration that it has not been possible to establish stable devolved government" in the North.
Hitting out at the paramilitary activity that does continue, both republican and loyalist, he said it "ruins peoples lives and harms Northern Ireland's reputation".
"All this must stop," he said.
Both governments will jointly chair the Agreement review discussions which will involve all the parties elected to the Stormont Assembly last November.
The talks could run until Easter and Ulster Secretary Mr Paul Murphy hinted yesterday that if they fail, fresh elections could be called by June.
PA