Lost in translation
The six local players who helped broker the Helsinki agreement with a number of Iraqi parties worked together to make the discussions as positive as possible. But even in the world of peace making nothing is 100% smooth. The organisers brought some young Iraqi interpreters to Finland whose knowledge of English was excellent, but whose command of "Norn Iron" accents left something to be desired.
With Martin McGuinness chairing the proceedings in his Derry lilt, at one point a young female interpreter broke in "I cannot understand. Can you speak in an English accent, Mr McGuinness?"
The request produced some hilarity amongst the NI politicians, but the interpreter persisted "Lord Alderdice speaks very clearly, maybe he could translate?"
The Deputy First Minister saw the funny side. During a stopover in Manchester on his way home from Helsinki he texted his fellow negotiators that he and his party adviser and former IRA hunger striker Leo Green were "brushing up on our English accents".
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