Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams today defended plans to meet
Cuban leader Fidel Castro during his four day visit to the country.
En route to the Cuban capital Havana today,
the West Belfast MP said that while some of
Sinn Fein's opponents would try to exploit
unease in the United States about his visit, he
was fulfilling a long standing engagement to
unveil a memorial to the IRA and INLA hunger
strikers who died in 1981.
He also wanted to acknowledge President
Castro's support for the hunger strike.
Mr Adams told PA News: "This is the 20th anniversary of the hunger
strike and there has been a year of commemoration, debate and
discussion in Ireland and around the world.
"Internationally, memorials were unveiled by me in South Africa and
by Martin McGuinness in Australia.
"We will be unveiling a memorial to the hunger strikers in Havana
which will be a fitting end to that commemorative year.
"At the time of the hunger strikes, President Castro spoke out in
support of the Irish struggle and commended the courage of the men
in the H-Blocks and the women in Armagh Jail."
Mr Adams is visiting Havana five months after the party's
representative in the country, Niall Connolly, was among three Irish
republicans arrested by the authorities in Colombia for allegedly
training left-wing FARC rebels.
Mr Adams is due to unveil the memorial to the hunger strikers which
was commissioned and funded by Irish republicans in the centre of
Havana on Tuesday.
He is also due to lay a wreath to the 19th century Cuban rebel Jose
Marti tomorrow and will be meeting key government officials before
holding talks with President Castro later this week.
He will also pay a fact-finding visit to a hospital.
With some Irish Americans expressing unease about the trip and his
talks with President Castro - a long time enemy of the US - Mr Adams
said he believed supporters of Sinn Fein in America would understand
his reasons for going.
"Having been in America as recently as November, there will be
some people clearly who support the peace process, who support
Sinn Fein, who support the Irish cause who will not agree with me
going to Cuba but I think they will accept and understand it.
"Others who do not support us, who do not support the peace
process, who are anti-Sinn Fein will seize on the visit, will try to grab
headlines and whip up media controversy.
"That is for them. It is their right. It is their entitlement. However, I
have a public commitment to go to Cuba and to unveil this
memorial."
Mr Adams said there was much for Irish republicans to learn from the
Cubans.
He commended the Cubans' work to overcome illiteracy and improve
their health services.
He also noted the Irish Government, the main political parties in
Dublin and the European Union opposed he trade blockade of the
country by the United States.
"The Cubans have reduced illiteracy almost to nil. They have
arguably the best health service in the world, sending doctors and
nurses around the globe - treating people from Chernobyl and other
places which have fallen victim to nuclear fall out.
"The fact that people struggle despite all the difficulties, all the
impoverished conditions and despite the hostility of the US
Government can survive and help others, is a big lesson to
everybody."
