[Sinn Fein]

11 April 1998

The Republican Struggle Continues, says Adams

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams MP speaking today in Belfast said the ``republican struggle goes on. Sinn Fein is resolutely committed to full national and democratic rights for all the people of this island.''

Mr Adams said:

``All republican activists should examine yesterday's document in great detail and in the context of the Republican strategy. The republican struggle so far has come through a series of phases from the civil rights days and the mass and popular uprising of the early seventies through intense periods of armed strugle and the prison struggles including the hungerstrikes into electoralism and the Sinn Fein peace strategy. That struggle goes on. Sinn Fein is resolutely committed to full national and democratic rights for all the people of this island.''

``Unionists' nervousness should not blind us to what has to be done in the time ahead. The real significance of last week's events for unionism was that the Ulster Unionist Party was moved further than it wanted to go. But if it is to play a positive role in the shared responsibility which must shape a shared future for everyone of this island, unionism will have to move even further into modern times.

``So while I am conscious of Mr Trimble's difficulties I have to remind him that it would be better for everyone if he was able to join in managing and planning the future along with the rest of us and in a generous and open hearted way.

``It is my view that this will happen. But only when there is no alternative. That is why the role of the British Prime Minister was so crucial. Up to this point British policy in support of the Union as well as the unionist veto have been at the root of the conflict here. That is why the focus of all democratic opinion must be on securing changes in British policy and removing the veto. That is why the struggle continues.''

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