A US government official with extensive experience on nuclear disarmament has been selected to replace President George W. Bush's special envoy to Northern Ireland, Dr Richard Haass.
Dr Mitchell B Reiss, who replaced Dr Haass as Director of Policy Planning at the State Department, is to take up the post early in the New Year.
Dr Reiss, who held a number of top academic posts, has published widely in the field of international affairs and arms control.
Having spent time working with the North Korean government on nuclear disarmament, he will now focus on the issues of IRA decommissioning and attempts to restore the power-sharing administration at Stormont.
Dr Haass, who took up a post in the summer with a top New York-based think tank, paid his last visit as envoy to the North last week.
Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Mr Martin McGuinness welcomed the Bush administration's appointment of Mr Reiss.
"The decision to appoint a new Special Envoy to Ireland is a signal of ongoing commitment by the US Administration to the Irish peace process," the Mid Ulster MP said.
"Ambassador Haass did play a positive role during his term and I wish him well in the future.
"I would like to congratulate Mr Reiss on his appointment and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has already written to him. Sinn Fein look forward to meeting with Mr Reiss at the earliest opportunity."
The SDLP'S Mr Mark Durkan also welcomed Mr Reiss' appointment,saying it proved the US government remained "committed to building peace" inNorthern Ireland.
The Foyle MLA continued: "I look forward to meeting Mr Reiss as soon aspossible.
"Richard Haass has played an enormously helpful role in our process and I ampleased that he will stay interested in our process into the future.
"At the same time, we in the North should not take international help forgranted.
"The onus is on us here to sort out our problems. We urgently need to get ouract together and get the political process up and running again."
PA