Des Dalton at conference in Italy

ADDRESSING a conference in Italy entitled 'Ireland and the struggle against imperialism’ Republican Sinn Féin Vice President Des Dalton said: “It is not enough to oppose imperialism abroad unless you are prepared to oppose it at home, you must be prepared to oppose it wherever it is found”.

The conference was held in the Italian town of Fermo on March 21 and was hosted by a local group of young political activists called ARIES Officina Nazional Popolare.

Des Dalton spoke about the events in Ireland and explained that the recent attacks in the Occupied Six Counties were the result of the continued British occupation. RSF representative in Italy, freelance journalist Massimiliano Vitelli gave an outline in Italian of the history of the struggle for Irish freedom. He also read an extract in Italian of the diary of Bobby Sands. The conference was attended by the assistant Mayor of Fermo as well as a number of local university academics and political activists.

On March 21 Des Dalton was welcomed to Fermo by the Mayor Saturnino Di Ruscio who made a presentation to the RSF Vice President. In turn Des presented the Mayor with a signed copy of the biography of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh.

Des Dalton also gave an extensive interview to the Italian daily newspaper Ilgiornale.