Inviting Sinn Féin to the White House is wide of the mark says UUP MEP
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said today that inviting Sinn Fein to the White House next week is wide of the mark and warned that if the White House allow Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams to attend a fundraiser in Washington next week, it would legitimise Republican’s criminal activity and send the wrong signal to the Unionist community.
Mr Nicholson, former chairman of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with the United States, was speaking as it emerged that party leaders from Northern Ireland, including Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams have been invite.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“The White House’s decision to invite the Sinn Fein President on St Patrick’s Day is wide of the mark. It sends the wrong message that somehow you can be linked to an organisation, which is wedded to criminality but still enjoy the benefits that only true democrats should be entitled to.
“The bottom line is that Sinn Fein must be prevented from carrying out their large – scale fundraising activities in the USA. They are linked to an organisation, which according to the IMC is still heavily involved in organised crime not to mention responsible for robbing 26 million pounds from the Northern Bank.
“I am sure the American people would not be able to stomach the political representatives of Al Qaeda or Hezbollah raising money in their country so there is no reason why Sinn Fein should be allowed to do so.”
Mr Nicholson concluded,
“I urge the US Government to close any legal loopholes, which may allow Sinn Fein to continue their highly profitable fundraising activities. We should not be expected to witness the sickening scenes, like we did last November, when Mr Adams exploited loopholes in US law to address a Friends of Ireland fundraising dinner via a video satellite link.”