The Cuban Foreign Minister has said that his government was looking forward to an upcoming visit by Gerry Adams. He said that the date and agenda of Sinn Féin President's visit were being finalised.
There had been speculation that Mr Adams would call off the trip, after the arrest of three alleged IRA members in Colombia. Some analysts believe the visit could damage Sinn Féin's standing in the United States, which broke off relations with Cuba in 1959.
Meanwhile, Mr Adams said today that the SDLP and Irish Government's support for policing had sundered the consensus that emerged on the issue. He was speaking ahead of a meeting with the Taoiseach tomorrow.
Mr Adams said that he trusted that this would only be a temporary difficulty but described the action of the SDLP and the Irish Government as "a premature move". He also accused the British government and Unionists of misrepresenting the arms issue.
He added that he believed the Colombia arrests would "continue to be exploited by opponents of the Good Friday Agreement and by others for sectional electoral purposes". He continued that despite his party's best efforts the peace process is now likely to go into a period of further turbulence.
