Republicans committed to genuine process of national reconciliation

After taking part in the state commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin this morning Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness was the main speaker at the Easter Commemoration in Monaghan town today. Martin McGuinness said that “shared hurts need to be acknowledged, lessened, and if possible healed”.

As part of a wide ranging speech, Martin McGuinness said,

“Republicans are committed to a genuine process of national reconciliation and this means reaching out to the unionist community in a spirit of generosity and understanding. Earlier this month a confident and united Sinn Fein leadership decided that republican representatives, including myself, should participate fully in the Irish President’s state visit to Britain. Our party leadership took this decision in the context of republican objectives, and as an initiative to further strengthen the process of change and reconciliation.

“Republicans have shown in words and deeds that we are absolutely committed to this process of reconciliation. But unionists must also

participate in this process. They need to reach out to republicans. The conflict was long and bitter. Many people were hurt on all sides. No one has a monopoly on suffering. It is time to begin discussing how shared hurts can be acknowledged, lessened and, if possible, healed.

“Republicans fully acknowledge the hurt that we inflicted in the course of the conflict. Unionists also need to recognise the hurt they have created. They need to turn their back on the inequality and repression that marked 50 years of one party rule in the north. They need to challenge rejectionist unionists. They need to show positive leadership.” CRÍOCH/ENDS

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Republicans committed to genuine process of national reconciliation – McGuinness

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