The British government is planning to host another round of proximity talks next week in an effort to find a permanent solution to the Drumcree Orange parade impasse in Portadown.
Senior aides of the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, have been in touch this week with the Orange Order and the nationalist Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition about an early resumption of the talks.
The most probable date for the talks is Saturday, January 23rd, and Mr Blair is expected to press for a positive outcome to the discussions when he meets Garvaghy Road representatives at Downing Street on Monday.
Mr Blair has met the Orange Order several times, and the meeting with the nationalist representatives from Portadown is at their request.
Last night Mr Denis Watson, the Orange Order Grand Secretary and Co Armagh Grand Master, confirmed that a British government civil servant had approached him about the order re-engaging in the proximity talks.
The Mayor of Craigavon, Alderman Mervyn Carrick, has also expressed optimism and called on Mr Blair and the Secretary of State, Dr Mo Mowlam, to get more involved in finding a solution.