Dafydd Iwan, the President of Plaid Cymru, has given one of the most vigorous speeches in support of independence and the nationalist cause in Wales for many years. He was addressing the party's spring conference in Pontypridd The Plaid Cymru leader pointed out that many of the countries joining the EU in May had similar or smaller populations than Wales but he said that did not stop them being independent. He told delegates: "If independence is the key to freedom for Slovenia, if independence is the key to prosperity in Ireland and if independence is the key to new prospects for Latvia, then independence is the right goal for Wales too." He went on to stress that independence for Wales would ensure that it was included in decision making, and not cut off from it, saying: "For independence read the first two letters - in. This is not the way to drop out, or to be cut off -- this is the way in to a new Britain, a new Europe and to the United Nations of all the nations. Independence is the way in. You heard it here first." The Welsh nationalist leader also broke new ground by making his address to the conference in English. He told delegates he was making the speech in English because he wanted: "to address particularly those of you who do not understand or speak Welsh". He stressed that; "Plaid Cymru, the party of Wales, will always do all it can to ensure the survival and indeed the flourishing of this living symbol of our nationality. But the survival of the Welsh language is not the responsibility of one party alone, it is the responsibility of all political parties in Wales and the language must never become a political football to be kicked around the political arena." Obviously referring to malevolent elements of the Welsh Labour Party, he went on "There are those who have used the Welsh language as a weapon against Plaid Cymru, by spreading the myth that our party is somehow only interested in people who speak Welsh. Let us put this senseless lie to rest once and for all." Dafydd Iwan's message will have a resonance far beyond the boundaries of Wales. Increasingly in recent years some Celtic nationalist political groups have softened their message on independence. In that climate his statement is a breath of fresh air! J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League
La Ligue Celtique est représentée dans les six nations celtiques. 
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