10 April 1997 Edition
Labour will talk - McGuinness
At Sinn Féin's weekly press conference Martin McGuinness said he was optimistic about future talks, ``Leading British Labour representatives are indicating that they recognise the serious mistakes of the Major administration. We can go into this election with considerable confidence that the British Labour Party will not repeat the mistakes of the Major administration''.
Pat Doherty agreed that recent statements from Marjorie Mowlam had ``thrown up huge new potential and opportunities for peace, and in relation to the American administration they are still very much engaged, and looking to the potential of a new British government responding in a much more meaningful way than the outgoing government.''
McGuinness said, ``What has happened in Ireland over the last two years has been the political education of a lifetime for everybody. I am hopeful that the next British government will not repeat the mistakes of the Major government, and will recognise the need to move forward decisively to resolve this conflict.
McGuinness spoke of the central Sinn Fein message for the upcoming Westminster elections, ``The securing of national self-determination is central to the issue of peace and equality for all the people of this island. Until that is realised Sinn Fein will campaign for equality of treatment for all citizens of this statelet.
``Sinn Fein has placed the issue of equality at the top of the political agenda. We are committed to keeping it there and we will enter negotiations seeking to secure equality of treatment for all citizens. The nationalist electorate know that Sinn Fein can be depended on to ensure that this issue is pursued vigorously.''
McGuinness dismissed the relevance of a Unionist unity candidate for West Belfast, saying ``what the Unionist parties do is a matter for themselves. We have the strongest candidate in the field, and we are absolutely convinced Gerry Adams is going to be elected.''
Pat Doherty agreed that recent statements from Marjorie Mowlam had ``thrown up huge new potential and opportunities for peace, and in relation to the American administration they are still very much engaged, and looking to the potential of a new British government responding in a much more meaningful way than the outgoing government.''
McGuinness said, ``What has happened in Ireland over the last two years has been the political education of a lifetime for everybody. I am hopeful that the next British government will not repeat the mistakes of the Major government, and will recognise the need to move forward decisively to resolve this conflict.
McGuinness spoke of the central Sinn Fein message for the upcoming Westminster elections, ``The securing of national self-determination is central to the issue of peace and equality for all the people of this island. Until that is realised Sinn Fein will campaign for equality of treatment for all citizens of this statelet.
``Sinn Fein has placed the issue of equality at the top of the political agenda. We are committed to keeping it there and we will enter negotiations seeking to secure equality of treatment for all citizens. The nationalist electorate know that Sinn Fein can be depended on to ensure that this issue is pursued vigorously.''
McGuinness dismissed the relevance of a Unionist unity candidate for West Belfast, saying ``what the Unionist parties do is a matter for themselves. We have the strongest candidate in the field, and we are absolutely convinced Gerry Adams is going to be elected.''