Speaking of terrorists. . .

Telegraph

Adams in Havana to thank Castro By David Sharrock in Havana (Filed: 17/12/2001)

GERRY ADAMS, the Sinn Fein president, begins a three-day visit to Cuba today, three months after he was forced to cancel his appointment with Fidel Castro because of American opposition.

Mr Adams, who is accompanied by Gerry Kelly, a convicted Provisional IRA bomber who is now a Sinn Fein member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, was due to arrive in Havana last night.

During his stay in the Cuban capital he will meet President Castro and unveil a memorial to the 10 republican hunger strikers who starved themselves to death in 1981 in pursuit of political status in the Maze Prison.

Mr Adams feels a debt of gratitude to Dr Castro, who spoke out in support of the hunger strikers in 1981. He has long been a supporter of Cuba's Communist regime and was determined to make the visit in this 20th anniversary year of the hunger strikes.

In September 1981 Dr Castro prompted a walkout by the British and American delegations to the 63rd conference of the Inter-parliamentary Union in Havana when he made a speech strongly supporting the IRA and INLA hunger strikers.

He described the hunger strikers as "neither Marxist-Leninists nor Communists, they are militant Catholics". He added: "In my opinion Irish patriots are writing one of the most heroic chapters in human history. They have earned the respect and admiration of the world and deserve its support."

Mr Adams's plans to visit Cuba have been fraught with difficulties. Corporate Irish America, Sinn Fein's most important backer, is largely anti-Castro and unhappy with Mr Adams associating with a regime which has been hostile to the United States and which is still the object of an official trade embargo.

Peter King, a Republican congressman, said he thought the visit was a mistake. Mr Adams is staying as an official guest of the Cuban government in the diplomatic quarter. A time and venue for his meeting with Dr Castro have yet to be confirmed.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001