Blair to hear republican case
WHEN a Sinn Féin delegation meets Tony Blair today, the British
premier will hear the demand for his country to end its claim
over the Six Counties, Gerry Adams has said.
Led by the party's two MPs, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness,
the delegation will impress upon Blair why it is essential he
take a leadership role in helping create the conditions for a
United Ireland.
Speaking yesterday, Gerry Adams said, ``We will also discuss with
Mr Blair the need for the British Government to begin the
necessarily speedy process of tackling the symptoms of the
conflict. This means moving quickly on the issue of prisoners,
demilitarisation and an equality agenda.''
Noting that it is 75 years since Irish republicans last spoke to
a British Prime Minister in London, he continued, ``The subsequent
imposition of partition failed to resolve the causes of conflict
and resulted in almost eight decades of instability, injustice,
an absence of democracy, oppression and intermittent conflict.''
Adding that the present generation of republicans is determined
to end the unfinished business of this period, he said that
today's meeting is an important part of the peace process.
Accompanying the MPs on the delegation are Lucilita Bhreatnach,
Martin Ferris, Siobhan O Hanlon, Michelle Gildernew and Richard
McAuley.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)