Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Peace Conference at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India considers Mandela, fondly known as Madiba, as one of its own.
Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Peace Conference at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India considers Mandela, fondly known as Madiba, as one of its own.
‘We Indians consider Madiba (Nelson Mandela) to be one of our own. We are proud to call him a Bharat Ratna. India cherishes its special relationship with Africa and its people. Our close bonds are reflected in the philosophy of Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi,’ she said.
During her address at the plenary event organised to commemorate Mandela's birth centenary, Swaraj shed light on how the former South African president's life continues to inspire people across the globe even in the present day.
‘Nelson Mandela's life is an inspiration. He showed fearlessness and courage in the face of discrimination and adversity. Values espoused by him- forgiveness, compassion, and inclusiveness of society are needed now more than ever in these turbulent times. Our collective survival as a global family requires that the wisdom of pioneering leaders such as Mandela remains our moral compass. Let us share this planet as one. Let us make a better world for our children,’ she added.
Earlier, a life-size statue of Mandela was unveiled at the United Nations Headquarters in New York by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the General Assembly, Maria Espinosa and Secretary-General Guterres.
Furthermore, twin stamps of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were released in July this year during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with South African President Ramaphosa.
Later, Swaraj also held bilateral talks with her counterparts from Ecuador, Colombia, Australia, and Mongolia. Swaraj today held a bilateral meeting with Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo, on the sidelines of the UNGA, along with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Foreign Minister of Mongolia Damdin Tsogtbaatar and Ecuador's Foreign Minister Jose Valencia.
Earlier, Sushma had met her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita and discussed strengthening cooperation in areas of commerce, pharmaceuticals, cybersecurity, defense, and culture. She also met European Union's High Representative Federica Mog and exchanged views on trade, investment and issues of global and regional interests.
Swaraj and her Liechtenstein counterpart Aurelia Frick met and held talks on enhancing bilateral ties in the areas of trade and investment.
The External Affairs Minister was also slated to meet her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the UNGA. However, after increasing reports of violence on police and army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, the meeting was called off.
Apart from participating in the General Debate, scheduled to commence today (September 25), Swaraj, during her jam-packed schedule, will hold a total of over 30 bilateral meetings as part of her visit to the United States.
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