Gerry Adams says Sinn Fein supporters will back Cuba visit
Gerry Adams insists the majority of Sinn Fein supporters in the United States will back his visit to Cuba.
After an historic meeting with president Fidel Castro, he admits there will be unease among some Irish-Americans.
But Mr Adams, who is to unveil a memorial in Havana to the 10 republicans who died on hunger strike at the Maze Prison, claimed: "They will understand why I am here."
With a 40-year trade embargo, some leading Irish Americans have made known their disquiet over this visit, particularly in the aftermath of the arrest of three suspected IRA men in Colombia last summer and their alleged links with rebel group FARC.
The Sinn Fein president had been due to go to Cuba then, but his trip was delayed until now. The party's representative in Havana is one of the three held.
He said: "I think our relationship with our friends in the United States and the cause of Ireland are stronger than any possible disagreement, and I would say that not many (Sinn Fein supporters in America) will disagree."
Earlier he said Cuban school children could learn about the 1981 hunger strikes.
He revealed that during his meeting with president Castro, the Communist leader had requested that Irish republicans supply Cuban educationalists with information about the hunger strikes and the Irish republican campaign so that it could be included on the National Curriculum.
Mr Adams was officially greeted by the Cuban leader at a rally in Havana marking the reconstruction of 100 schools and the reduction of class sizes to 20 pupils per classroom.
The two leaders shook hands and Mr Adams was led into the crowd of school children, parents and teachers after a one-and-a-half hour speech by the Cuban president on education.
