Obama, Cameron discuss peace in Syria, Northern Ireland

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday in a call the White House described as "part of their ongoing consultations on shared security challenges and advancing the special relationship." The two leaders stressed their commitment to the Geneva II talks on Syria, as well as the humanitarian crisis resulting from the fighting, and "the growing security challenge posed by extremist groups in Syria and the region." They also "noted the ongoing progress on dismantling Syria's chemical weapons program, as well as the important international contributions being made to this effort," according to a readout of the call. Obama expressed his support to Cameron regarding his efforts to encourage steps toward "peace and stability" in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. On Northern Ireland's political talks, "they stressed the need for the parties to agree to concrete next steps on the Haass proposals, implement the Building a United Community initiative, and more broadly, continue to advance progress on the peace process in Northern Ireland." The Haass proposals come from American diplomat Dr. Richard Haas, who has been tasked with helping to bring Northern Ireland's five main political parties to agreement. Leaked documents from the National Security Agency (NSA) were also on the agenda. According to the readout, Obama updated Cameron "on the ongoing U.S. signals intelligence review and both leaders noted the intensive dialogue that the United States and United Kingdom have had on these issues, at all levels."