Mideast envoy and former Maine Senator George Mitchell told an audience at Colby College last night that it's too soon to call his efforts to negotiate peace in the region a failure. Mitchell recalled his work on the Northern Ireland peace talks, which had many setbacks.

"Those negotiations -- I chaired, three of them over a five-year period -- were the longest, most difficult I've ever been involved with, at least up until now.  Often, no progress seemed possible, but somehow we kept going," Mitchell said.

Those negotiations ended in the historic Northern Ireland peace agreement.  The former Maine Senator was asked by President Obama to attempt to restart Mideast peace talks.  He's scheduled to head back to the region next week. 

Mitchell will also speak late this afternoon in Portland at an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Mitchell Institute, which aims to help more Maine kids attend college.