Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Féin, has just been re-elected at Westminster, easily retaining his West Belfast sit. ANF has spoken to him about the recent elections and the future of the Irish Peace Process. Gerry Adams then spoke about the struggle of the Kurdish people. "Peace processes are in so many ways much more difficult than conflict. - he said - But once you come to the conclusion that there is no military solution to a particular problem then every effort must be made to develop an alternative strategy, win support for that strategy and move ahead".

- First of all, can you tell us your assessment of the election results?

The Westminster election result in the north provided a clear public endorsement for moving forward. It was a resounding rejection of anti-peace process elements, whether in the guise of unionist unity candidates, or Jim Allister´s TUV (Traditional Unionist Voice) or the violence of the so-called dissident republican groups.

There is no appetite for the agenda of the wreckers and rejectionists.

The message of this election is that politics is working. The vast majority of people are up for power sharing, partnership politics and the all-Ireland institutions. They want things to continue moving forward in a positive way.

For the second election in a row Sinn Féin also emerged as the largest party with the greatest level of popular support and we increased Sinn Féin´s percentage share of the vote in almost every constituency.

Our target had been to hold our five seats. We knew this was going to be a hugely difficult challenge given that the unionists had rallied around a single unionist candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and that the SDLP were intent on standing a candidate and splitting the nationalist vote.

Nonetheless we succeeded. Albeit by four votes! If ever there was an election to demonstrate the old maxim that every vote counts this was it.

- The new British government is a coalition government. How that would affect progress in the North?

I long ago learned not to worry about those matters over which I have no control. So, while others, especially in the media, were very focussed on whether there would or would not be a hung Parliament and a coalition government in Britain, I got on with fighting the election.

I knew that whoever made up the British government would have to deal with Sinn Féin. And we are ready to engage with them positively on continuing to make progress in the peace process as well as on tackling the social and economic matters which confront all of us as a result of the global crisis.

- Others are struggling to achieve some kind of negotiation process, namely the Kurds and the Basques. And they are both looking at the Irish experience. What would be your message to the Kurdish people?

Each experience is different. The Irish experience is one. There are others. The key is to keep working at it. There are no short cuts. Look at the international experience and see what can be adapted to your particular circumstances.

Peace processes are in so many ways much more difficult than conflict.

Formulating strategic goals; agreeing political strategies and tactics to advance them; getting them agreed internally; engaging with opponents and seeking to persuade them of the merits of your arguments; winning popular support; winning international support for your position, all of these are crucial elements of any peace strategy and all are equally important.

Any significant decision Sinn Féin took was always set against our strategic goals and whether the decision would advance or subvert these goals. But once you come to the conclusion that there is no military solution to a particular problem then every effort must be made to develop an alternative strategy, win support for that strategy and move ahead.

- Dialogue and before that the recognition of the 'other' and of the other suffering is crucial to every healing and peace process. How to achieve this? Again what would you say to the Kurdish people? Do you thing you managed to achieve this in Ireland?

A successful peace process must by its nature be inclusive. To succeed in this you have to work hard to understand what drives your political opponents. It means learning to put yourself in the shoes of your opponents. Of examining why they hold the positions they do and why they believe what they do.

In this way a better understanding of other positions can help you to reshape your strategies and policies to advance your strategic goals while at the same time help build an inclusive process. Without inclusiveness the process will not work.

The propaganda of war and the strategic needs of defeating an enemy requires that opponents become `terrorists´, `criminals´ `gangs´. War dehumanises people.

In a genuine peace process that approach is a recipe for failure. As Mandela once said you must make your enemy your friend. That is hugely difficult, especially if your enemy as been responsible for great hurt. But that is true of all sides in war.

So, treat your opponent as you would expect to be treated. Try to understand them. Look at the situation from their point of view and seek to shape your approach appropriately. Truth and healing processes are among the most difficult aspects of any conflict resolution process. We are not there yet. We have much work to do.

However, the election witnessed the obvious early beginnings of a reconfiguration of politics here. Increasingly the electorate realise that Sinn Féin´s progressive agenda on the economy is in the interests of working people. So, for the first time we saw real evidence of small numbers of people from unionist areas beginning to vote Sinn Féin.

I believe the huge changes of recent years have made many things possible and that people are willing to reconsider who really represents their interests, particularly on social and economic issues.

While the numbers may be small, the development itself is significant and a great cause of hope for the future of society here.

- Finally, twelve years since the Good Friday Agreement. What is your assessment of the peace process progress so far?

We have made significant progress thus far. And despite the efforts of some, including those who would seek to use violence against the process, the political institutions and the Good Friday Agreement remain strong.

In effect these are settled matters. The Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements are now British government policy and all of the parties in the north endorse them.

That is not to say that some will try to delay aspects of these agreements or to destroy them entirely but the election result showed quite emphatically that the vast majority of people have bought into the Agreements and the political institutions.

Sinn Féin is a republican party and we are for an end to partition and the reunification of Ireland and this process we believe can bring help us achieve these goals.