Published Saturday, 10 September 2011
The Sinn Féin leader told party colleagues republicanism was about fairness and equality during his keynote address at Belfast's Waterfront Hall on Saturday.
"Building a new Irish Republic is about much more than territory. It is about people. It is about fairness. It is about equality," he said.
He said the Irish people abhorred "injustice, greed, corruption, sectarianism and racism".
I see unionists as brothers and sisters to be loved and cherished as we continue to develop a genuine process of reconciliation on our journey to the New Republic.
Martin McGuinness
His speech comes after Presbyterian minister Reverend David Latimer made history on Friday evening, when he became the first protestant clergyman to ever address a Sinn Féin Ard Fheis.
During his address, Rev Latimer hailed Mr McGuinness as one of the "true great leaders of modern times".
The former Army chaplain, who addressed delegates in Irish on a number of occasions, described him as his friend.
"We must not let the peace die, we will not let the peace die and with a man at the helm like Martin we can be sure of that," he said.
On Saturday, the Sinn Féin deputy first minister also paid tribute to victims of the 9/11 attacks in New York, which he said claimed the life of a valued supporter of the peace process.
Mr McGuinness recalled how he learned of the attacks while holding a private meeting with party president Gerry Adams and the then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
"Both myself and Gerry Adams had travelled to New York on many occasions and our first thoughts were of concern for our many friends in that fine city," he said.
"The Irish diaspora in New York have been long time supporters of Irish freedom and our party has many, many supporters in that city and indeed throughout the United States.
"As it turned out a great friend of Ireland - and a visitor here on many occasions, the New York Fire department chaplain Fr Mychal Judge - christened Robert Emmett - perished in the twin towers on that day alongside so many others.
"He too was a frequent visitor to Belfast."
Mr McGuinness described him as a "great friend of the peace process".
"The loss of Fr Judge was something that impacted on us very personally indeed," he said.
"And it is important that as we set about completing the task of uniting Ireland - of building a New Republic - that we are conscious of the important role Irish people across the world will play in that."
Party President Gerry Adams will close the conference with his speech on Saturday evening, which is expected to be delivered to more than 2,000 delegates.
A special public ceremony will be held at Belfast City Hall on Sunday to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.