Surfin' in the USA
In an unprecedented move Sinn Féin sent 13 leading party members to
attend engagements in every corner of the US.
Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, Bairbre de Brún, Pat Doherty, Sean
McManus, Martin Ferris, Gerry Kelly, Mitchel McLaughlin, Alex Maskey,
Joe Cahill, Rita O'Hare and Des Mackin all spoke throughout the US to
explain the current state of the peace process and to seek support
for its position that the Good Friday Agreement must be implemented.
All were well received at all venues and the highlight of the tour
was Gerry Adams speech at Emory University.
Speaking at the University Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams pointed
out that power should have been transferred on March 10 from the
London and Dublin governments to the new All-Ireland institutions. He
also outlined Sinn Féin's commitment to use ``this time in Washington,
and in Ireland, to defuse this crisis''.
Adams reiterated Sinn Féin's belief that the gun must be taken out of
Irish politics. However, this must mean all of the guns, legal and
illegal. He also stated his belief that the peace process can close
the ``enormous gap between Unionists and Republicans''.
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