久久亚洲国产成人影院-久久亚洲国产的中文-久久亚洲国产高清-久久亚洲国产精品-亚洲图片偷拍自拍-亚洲图色视频

  Home>News Center>World
         
 

Mandela, in farewell speech, slams Iraq war
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-11 09:18

Former President Nelson Mandela Monday hailed South Africa's 10 years of peaceful multi-racial democracy as inspiration for a world he said was saddened and horrified by the U.S.-led war in Iraq.


Former South African presidents, Nelson Mandela(L) and FW de Klerk, leave the country's Parliament in Cape Town, May 10, 2004. Mandela and de Klerk addressed a special joint sitting of Parliament in celebration of ten years of democratic rule in the country. [Reuters]
The 85-year-old anti-apartheid icon, in a farewell address to parliament on the 10th anniversary of his inauguration as the country's first black president, urged South Africans to come together to meet their new challenges: poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.

"We live in a world where there is enough reason for cynicism and despair," said Mandela, a fierce critic of the U.S.-led war on Iraq, told parliament.

"We watch as two of the leading democracies, two leading nations of the free world, get involved in a war that the United Nations did not sanction," Mandela said, adding that the world had been horrified by reports of torture of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. and British forces.

"We see how the powerful countries, all of them so-called democracies, manipulate multilateral bodies to the great disadvantage and suffering of the poorer developing nations."

Mandela -- who stepped down in 1999 and wryly referred to himself as "a retired old pensioner" -- said South Africa had forged a path based on respect for human dignity.

"Historical enemies succeeded in negotiating a peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy exactly because we were prepared to accept the inherent capacity for goodness in the other," he said in a joint appearance with former President F.W. de Klerk, his fellow architect in South Africa's transformation.

BOWING OUT

Mandela, who turns 86 on July 18 and appears increasingly frail, said Monday's speech would be his last to parliament and aides say he plans to drastically cut back on his public schedule to concentrate on his family and writing projects.

Legislators in somber business suits and spectacular African traditional dress filled the ornate parliamentary hall with rhythmic clapping and a melodic chant of "Nelson Mandela" as the white-haired statesman made his way slowly out of the chamber.

"Your words of wisdom have not fallen on deaf ears," Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza said in parliament's official thanks to its founding president.

Mandela said he believed the country was in good hands with his successor President Thabo Mbeki, who led the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to another landslide victory in elections in April, winning a second five-year term.

"His achievement as president and national leader is the embodiment of what our nation is capable of," Mandela -- who has been known to disagree with Mbeki in the past -- said before an audience that included Mbeki and his entire cabinet.

De Klerk, who shared a Nobel Peace prize with Mandela, said South Africa averted the racial bloodbath many feared only through tough negotiation.

"We all did the right thing: we came together," de Klerk said. "I call on all people to continue to work together and to take hands and to make our country a shining example to the rest of the world."

Mandela used his speech to highlight one of his main causes: the HIV/AIDS epidemic which infects about one of nine South Africans, making it the hardest hit country in the world.

"HIV/AIDS continues to threaten our future in a particularly frightening manner," Mandela said, adding poverty, unemployment and disease "blot out the landscape as we strive to give content to the democratic commitment of a better life for all."

"Our democracy must bring its material fruits to all, particularly the poor, marginalized and vulnerable. Our belief in the common good ultimately translates into a deep concern for those who suffer want and deprivation of any kind," he said.

 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

China, Britain push for stronger relations

 

   
 

Taiwan recount to settle vote dispute

 

   
 

China denies plan of administrative remap

 

   
 

Tornado pummels Guangdong areas, kills 6

 

   
 

Red Cross: Iraq abuse routine, systematic

 

   
 

Pedestrians obey laws or pay up

 

   
  Red Cross: Iraq abuse routine, systematic
   
  Bush's backing of Rumsfeld shocks and angers Arabs
   
  Mandela, in farewell speech, slams Iraq war
   
  US Embassy in Japan receives bomb threat
   
  Newspaper scores Rumsfeld, Myers for 'professional negligence'
   
  US reopens 1955 killing of black youth
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Mandela attends first wife's funeral
   
Newspaper scores Rumsfeld, Myers for 'professional negligence'
   
Bush sees new abuse photos with 'disgust'
   
Bush's backing of Rumsfeld shocks and angers Arabs
   
Red Cross: Iraq abuse routine, systematic
  News Talk  
  Scandal over humiliation of Iraqi prisoners  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 日韩在线中文字幕 | 91精品国产91久久 | 一级特级aaaa毛片免费观看 | 久久久久久久国产精品视频 | 精品久久久久久影院免费 | 九九99香蕉在线视频网站 | 欧美一级aⅴ毛片 | 特黄aa级毛片免费视频播放 | 成人a毛片免费视频观看 | 欧美黄色一级视屏 | 91免费看国产 | 成 人 黄 色 免费播放 | 久久精品99毛片免费 | 免费一级毛片在线播放 | 久久91亚洲精品中文字幕 | 成年午夜一级毛片视频 | 男人的天堂2018 | 成人在线免费观看视频 | 久久国产精品1区2区3区网页 | 日韩a无吗一区二区三区 | 欧美在线一区二区三区精品 | 久久精品免费观看 | 一区二区不卡视频在线观看 | 亚洲午夜色 | 亚洲欧美日韩另类精品一区二区三区 | 精品综合久久久久久98 | 中文字幕日韩一区二区 | 在线日本视频 | 久久国产精品成人免费 | 欧美视频在线观在线看 | 日韩 欧美 中文 亚洲 高清 在线 | 最刺激黄a大片免费网站 | 国产精品久草 | 国产丶欧美丶日韩丶不卡影视 | 成人免费观看一区二区 | 香蕉久久夜色精品国产尤物 | 欧美激情视频一区二区免费 | 国产精品黄网站 | 亚洲天堂2016 | 欧美日韩看看2015永久免费 | 国产一级做a爰片... |