The Grey Blur
21st October 2005, 16:13
Special sitting for Adams at parliament
South Africa’s parliament in Cape Town yesterday convened a special sitting that was officially addressed by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams. During the keynote address which took place in the Old Assembly of the parliament, Mr Adams was formally hosted by the acting speaker Geoffrey Doidge.
Mr Adams also held a private lunch with 20 senior figures from key parliamentary committees, including defence and foreign affairs. He described his official invitation to address parliamentarians as an “exceptional honour”.
Mninwa Mahlangu, chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, said that the South African parliament “attach a strong significance” to Mr Adams’ visit.
Referring to the recent moves by the IRA as “commendable steps”, Mr Mahlangu expressed hope that the peace process will now be revived.
During a session that lasted 50 minutes, scores of parliamentary representatives from all South Africa’s main political parties heard Mr Adams discussing the Irish peace process in the context of global developments.
“Irish republicans have always been firmly internationalists: our roots lie in the French revolution and the American revolution,” Mr Adams said.
“Our core political value is based on the right of human beings to be free citizens – liberated, empowered and equal.
“The founders of Irish republicanism saw themselves as citizens of the world and the Irish fight for freedom as part of a worldwide struggle of humanity. That remains Sinn Féin’s view today,” Mr Adams said.
The Sinn Féin president told parliamentarians that “the great social, economic and environmental problems” of the world must be tackled by international co-operation among nations.
Mr Adams called for “strategic partnership” between the developed world and the developing world, “not as an act of charity – but as part of our duty and responsibility towards other human beings”.
“We are delighted to see the decline of the old empires but we are conscious that the old imperial powers continue to seek ways to exploit their former colonies,” he added.
Highlighting that over one fifth of the world’s population live on less than a dollar-per-day, Mr Adams insisted that “another world – a world of equals – is possible”.
“This requires a United Nations which can assert an agenda which reflects the true needs and interests of the peoples of the world.
“In other words, efforts to reform and democratise the United Nations must continue. We believe that foreign debts of developing countries must be cancelled. We believe poverty can be eradicated.
“We believe that the cause of international security has to shift from a purely militaristic agenda which attacks democratic and civil rights in particular countries to deal with the real causes of insecurity in the world.
“We believe that the global economy must be re-organised to allow developing countries the freedom to develop socially and economically – to manage their own resources with the developed countries paying fair prices for their products.”
Mr Adams said the anti-apartheid struggle demonstrated that seemingly unalterable conditions can be completely transformed.
“We can make the world a better place by making our own countries – our own regions of the world – better places.
“Let no one here be in any doubt – the end of apartheid has made a huge contribution to this cause.
“Of course there is a lot more to be done, but progressive and freedom loving people everywhere owe a great debt of gratitude to the people of South Africa.”
Mr Adams recalled that South African media censorship in 1977 and the British ban on Sinn Féin in 1998 were both imposed on October 19, remembered this week in South Africa by Media Freedom Day.
“I note these dates so that we can judge how far our progressive causes have advanced since then.
“The peace process is a journey. The milestones on that journey have been signposted since the IRA cessation of 1994 through to the recent IRA initiatives to formally call an end to its armed campaign and to put its weapons beyond use.
“There are two big challenges facing Sinn Féin in the next phase of the peace process. One is to keep the British government to its commitments. The other is to end the scourge of sectarianism in Ireland, to forge a new relationship between unionism and the rest of us.
“I believe there are lessons to be learned from your process of national reconciliation and I am pleased that the President and Foreign Minister Zuma are prepared to facilitate this, if and when this is necessary.”
Noting the historical contact throughout the last century between Irish republicans, such as Arthur Griffith, with ANC comrades, Mr Adams declared: “What we want in Ireland is what you have achieved in South Africa. We want our freedom. It is my conviction that this is achievable.”
Mr Adams closed his speech with a quote from the Bobby Sands poem The Rhythm of Time.
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South Africa’s parliament in Cape Town yesterday convened a special sitting that was officially addressed by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams. During the keynote address which took place in the Old Assembly of the parliament, Mr Adams was formally hosted by the acting speaker Geoffrey Doidge.
Mr Adams also held a private lunch with 20 senior figures from key parliamentary committees, including defence and foreign affairs. He described his official invitation to address parliamentarians as an “exceptional honour”.
Mninwa Mahlangu, chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, said that the South African parliament “attach a strong significance” to Mr Adams’ visit.
Referring to the recent moves by the IRA as “commendable steps”, Mr Mahlangu expressed hope that the peace process will now be revived.
During a session that lasted 50 minutes, scores of parliamentary representatives from all South Africa’s main political parties heard Mr Adams discussing the Irish peace process in the context of global developments.
“Irish republicans have always been firmly internationalists: our roots lie in the French revolution and the American revolution,” Mr Adams said.
“Our core political value is based on the right of human beings to be free citizens – liberated, empowered and equal.
“The founders of Irish republicanism saw themselves as citizens of the world and the Irish fight for freedom as part of a worldwide struggle of humanity. That remains Sinn Féin’s view today,” Mr Adams said.
The Sinn Féin president told parliamentarians that “the great social, economic and environmental problems” of the world must be tackled by international co-operation among nations.
Mr Adams called for “strategic partnership” between the developed world and the developing world, “not as an act of charity – but as part of our duty and responsibility towards other human beings”.
“We are delighted to see the decline of the old empires but we are conscious that the old imperial powers continue to seek ways to exploit their former colonies,” he added.
Highlighting that over one fifth of the world’s population live on less than a dollar-per-day, Mr Adams insisted that “another world – a world of equals – is possible”.
“This requires a United Nations which can assert an agenda which reflects the true needs and interests of the peoples of the world.
“In other words, efforts to reform and democratise the United Nations must continue. We believe that foreign debts of developing countries must be cancelled. We believe poverty can be eradicated.
“We believe that the cause of international security has to shift from a purely militaristic agenda which attacks democratic and civil rights in particular countries to deal with the real causes of insecurity in the world.
“We believe that the global economy must be re-organised to allow developing countries the freedom to develop socially and economically – to manage their own resources with the developed countries paying fair prices for their products.”
Mr Adams said the anti-apartheid struggle demonstrated that seemingly unalterable conditions can be completely transformed.
“We can make the world a better place by making our own countries – our own regions of the world – better places.
“Let no one here be in any doubt – the end of apartheid has made a huge contribution to this cause.
“Of course there is a lot more to be done, but progressive and freedom loving people everywhere owe a great debt of gratitude to the people of South Africa.”
Mr Adams recalled that South African media censorship in 1977 and the British ban on Sinn Féin in 1998 were both imposed on October 19, remembered this week in South Africa by Media Freedom Day.
“I note these dates so that we can judge how far our progressive causes have advanced since then.
“The peace process is a journey. The milestones on that journey have been signposted since the IRA cessation of 1994 through to the recent IRA initiatives to formally call an end to its armed campaign and to put its weapons beyond use.
“There are two big challenges facing Sinn Féin in the next phase of the peace process. One is to keep the British government to its commitments. The other is to end the scourge of sectarianism in Ireland, to forge a new relationship between unionism and the rest of us.
“I believe there are lessons to be learned from your process of national reconciliation and I am pleased that the President and Foreign Minister Zuma are prepared to facilitate this, if and when this is necessary.”
Noting the historical contact throughout the last century between Irish republicans, such as Arthur Griffith, with ANC comrades, Mr Adams declared: “What we want in Ireland is what you have achieved in South Africa. We want our freedom. It is my conviction that this is achievable.”
Mr Adams closed his speech with a quote from the Bobby Sands poem The Rhythm of Time.
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