The PLO said today it would never accept a solution to the Middle East crisis that did not include recognition of Palestinian claims to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem.
In a sometimes emotional address to the Sinn Féin ard fheis, Mr Alli Halimeh, spokesman for the PLO in Ireland, told delegates the Middle East peace process had collapsed in practical terms as a result of the Israeli failure to implement the 1993 Oslo Agreement.
"He [Ariel Sharon] has destroyed the hopes of the Oslo Agreement," claimed Mr Haliemh.
"Every day he massacres Palestinian civilians...in return we are defending our dignity and our honour."
"We belong to that part of the world. We have nowhere else to go, that is our country."
Earlier, Mr Joseba Alvares, head of International Affairs for Batusuna, the political wing of ETA, told delegates that the seperatist movement in the Basque country was prepared to commit itself to dialogue to resolve current difficulties.
"This is not the time to bend our heads," he said. "Through dialogue, not war, we will resolve this conflict."
"Self-determination and peace are synonymous - the right to decide that is all we are looking for."
Mr Alvares also accused the Spanish and French governments of trying to criminalise the Basque people and said they were seeking an armed response rather than dialogue.
ANC representative Mr Pallo Jordan urged Sinn Féin to keep the Northern Ireland peace process on track.
"It takes courage to stay on course and not to give in to provocations for those who would like to see the peace process collapse," he said.
This afternoon, the 2,000 Sinn Féin delegates attending the party's ard fheis in the RDS in Dublin will debate motions on international affairs.
That will be followed by a debate on their coalition options should they be in a position to enter Government following the Dáil elections that are expected next year.