Adams in equality pledge to unionists

Republicans will not allow unionists to suffer disadvantage or discrimination, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams insisted today.

On the third day of his official visit to South Africa, the West Belfast MP told a specially-convened session of the country’s Parliament in Cape Town that the peace process had created a dynamic of change which many unionists found threatening.

However, he insisted his party wanted to work with unionists to create a better future.

“They are afraid that they will lose out economically and politically; that the traditional roles will be reversed and that they will suffer disadvantage and discrimination,” he observed.

“Irish republicans will not condone or be part of such developments.

“The underpinning principle which guides our politics is equality. This means working in partnership with those unionists who will work with us to ensure a better future for all our people.”

Mr Adams said peace and stability could bring about many benefits to Ireland as it had done in South Africa.

The Sinn Féin leader said his party would pro-actively engage with unionists - talking to them, sharing concerns and ideas and carving out a future which everyone could feel comfortable in and prosperous.

“I believe we can achieve this,” he said.

“I believe the example set by South Africa marks the path which we too must follow.”

Yesterday Mr Adams briefed South African President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria on recent developments in the Northern Ireland peace process, three weeks after the IRA completed weapons decommissioning.

He also met the country’s foreign minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to discuss the experiences of disarmament in South Africa and Northern Ireland and the lessons for other peace processes in Africa.

Mr Adams also visited Freedom Park in the township of Soweto in Johannesburg yesterday.

Barefoot, the Sinn Féin leader witnessed a ceremony at the site involving incense commemorating those who died in the struggle to get rid of apartheid.