Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales European Leader Jill Evans MEP has reminded the Party’s Conference of the parallels between the campaigning of former Plaid Cymru President Gwynfor Evans against the Vietnam War, and their current opposition to war against Iraq.

In a keynote speech at the annual conference in Llandudno, Ms Evans, who is Plaid Cymru International Affairs Spokesperson, said:

"Gwynfor Evans took a stance against the war in Vietnam, and today we speak on behalf of the majority of people in Wales who stand opposed to a war in Iraq."

"War against Iraq would be disastrous and would cause even more instability in the Middle East. Of course Saddam Hussein is a dangerous man who has persecuted the people of Iraq – we were saying that in the eighties when the British government was selling him arms. We all want to see a democratic government in Iraq, but more bloodshed won’t achieve that.

"We believe in the rule of international law. No one is above that law. The campaign against terrorism cannot over-ride democracy and human rights, because respect for human rights is one of the most important weapons in defeating terrorism. The International Criminal Court, established this year in The Hague, has the potential to be the most important human rights mechanism in many years. No one, including the United States, should be exempt from its jurisdiction.

"We are part of a new worldwide movement campaigning for peace and against oppression and injustice. That movement was born out of, and in opposition to, the destructive so-called “war against terrorism.” I have been involved in the establishment of a European Network for Peace and Human Rights, an international organisation to bring together peace groups all over the world.

"I am very grateful to our friends from Israel and Palestine, and from Kurdistan and Cuba for coming to our conference to tell us about their situation and what more we can do to help achieve peace. I can promise them that in this conference you won’t hear fine words and then go home and hear nothing of us again. Our members are passionate and active supporters of your causes and we will take whatever action is within our power to help resolve problems."

Ends.