9 December 1999 Edition
Ó Caoláin meets US ambassador on Cuba blockade
Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin met the United States Ambassador this week and urged the ending of his government's blockade against Cuba. ÓCaoláin was joined by Seán Power TD (Fianna Fáil) and Jack Wall TD (Labour) in the Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group delegation which met the Ambassador Michael Sullivan in his residence in the Phoenix Park on Tuesday.
The Cavan/Monaghan TD described the meeting as a ``significant engagement''. He said that the Ambassador had been left in no doubt as to the opposition of the vast majority of elected representatives and ordinary citizens in Ireland to the illegal and immoral blockade Cuba by the USA. He said:
``I highlighted in particular the ban on food and medicine sales which is an outrage and gravely damages the health of Cuban people, especially children. I said that as a party which has played a central role in the Irish Peace Process, giving new hope to our people on the eve of the Millennium, we in Sinn Féin would appeal to the US government, recognising the positive role it has played in our peace process, to show the same spirit of goodwill towards the Cuban people. This embargo should not be carried into the 21st century.''
The Cavan/Monaghan TD described the meeting as a ``significant engagement''. He said that the Ambassador had been left in no doubt as to the opposition of the vast majority of elected representatives and ordinary citizens in Ireland to the illegal and immoral blockade Cuba by the USA. He said:
``I highlighted in particular the ban on food and medicine sales which is an outrage and gravely damages the health of Cuban people, especially children. I said that as a party which has played a central role in the Irish Peace Process, giving new hope to our people on the eve of the Millennium, we in Sinn Féin would appeal to the US government, recognising the positive role it has played in our peace process, to show the same spirit of goodwill towards the Cuban people. This embargo should not be carried into the 21st century.''