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STORY: UN / MANDELA PEACE SUMMIT
TRT: 3:10
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 24 SEPTEMBER 2018, NEW YORK CITY
24 SEPTEMBER 2018, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior
2. Zoom in, South African President, President of the General Assembly, and Secretary General unveiling statue of Mandela
3. Wide shot, Guterres putting South African flag on statue
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, 73rd President, United Nations General Assembly:
“The statue that we unveil today is not done in mourning for his passing, as so many monuments are, but is done in celebration and in deep respect and gratitude. This statue will stand as testament to Mandela and, by extension, to the values that he so fiercely defended and fought for: for racial equality, for non-discrimination, and for the incredible value and dignity of human life.”
5. Wide shot, General Assembly Hall
6. Wide shot, Guterres and Espinosa at dais
7. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Today, we remember a man of great wisdom, quiet dignity and towering achievement, who worked tirelessly for peace and human dignity for people everywhere. That is our Organization’s purpose and – as leaders – it is our responsibility. Let us commit to build on Nelson Mandela’s legacy so that all people everywhere can enjoy peace, prosperity and inclusive sustainable development.”
8. Med shot, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Cyril Ramphosa, President, South Africa:
“As we strive for peace, we cannot escape the reality that conflict and hostility have their roots in poverty, exclusion, and marginalization. Unless we confront the conditions under which the poor of the world live, we will not succeed in building a peaceful and stable world.”
10. Med shot, delegates
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission:
“At a moment when multilateralism is suffering attacks from all parts of egoism, intolerance, isolationism, and rejection of the other, the celebration of the centenary of Madiba is a marker of freedom, solidarity, and peace among people.”
12. Wide shot, General Assembly Hall
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Graça Machel, co-founder of the Elders:
“It is time for every leader here to take responsibility; those who are directly involved in the atrocities plaguing our world, those who take sides, and those who sit in silence. As leaders of this time, you have the moral imperative and the ability to bring the death and destruction we witness on a daily basis to an end.”
14. Wide shot, delegates
15. Wide shot, General Assembly Hall
The UN General Assembly adopted today a political declaration at the “Mandela Peace Summit” in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of the late South African President.
Prior to the event, dignitaries gathered for the unveiling of a statue of Mandela, presented as a gift from the Government of South Africa to the United Nations. UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa said the statue was not done in mourning of Mandela’s passing, rather “in celebration and in deep respect and gratitude.” She said the statue would stand as “testament to Mandela and, by extension, to the values that he so fiercely defended and fought for: for racial equality, for non-discrimination, and for the incredible value and dignity of human life.”
Speaking at the Peace Summit, UN chief António Guterres said today “we remember a man of great wisdom, quiet dignity and towering achievement, who worked tirelessly for peace and human dignity for people everywhere.” He called on leaders to build on Nelson Mandela’s legacy “so that all people everywhere can enjoy peace, prosperity and inclusive sustainable development.”
South African President Cyril Ramphosa said the UN could only succeed in bringing peace to the extent that global leaders provide leadership that transcends ideological differences and narrow national interests. He said with this Summit, leaders are given an opportunity not only to reflect on peace in the world, but to take the measures necessary to end the wars that continue to take millions of innocent lives.
Ramphosa said, “As we strive for peace, we cannot escape the reality that conflict and hostility have their roots in poverty, exclusion, and marginalization; unless we confront the conditions under which the poor of the world live, we will not succeed in building a peaceful and stable world.” He hoped that the Summit would serve as a new dawn for the UN and give expression to the Secretary-General’s call for a surge in diplomacy.
African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki said Nelson Mandela dedicated his wisdom to humanism to the freedom and dignity of people. He said, “At a moment when multilateralism is suffering attacks from all parts of egoism, intolerance, isolationism, and rejection of the other, the celebration of the centenary of Madiba is a marker of freedom, solidarity, and peace among people.”
Graça Machel, Nelson Mandela’s widow and co-founder of the Elders, said there was no justification for the loss of life and suffering in conflicts around the world. She said, “It is time for every leader here to take responsibility; those who are directly involved in the atrocities plaguing our world, those who take sides, and those who sit in silence.” She stressed that leaders have “the moral imperative and the ability to bring the death and destruction we witness on a daily basis to an end.”
The political declaration at the Mandela Peace Summit recognizes the period from 2019 to 2028 as the Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace and calls upon all countries to redouble their efforts to pursue international peace and security, development and human rights in the Decade.
