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Tributes to President Félix Houphouët-Boigny |
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Leading political figures who have marked the history of their countries and the world by their stature have left us testimonies that allow us to gauge the personality of Félix Houphouët-Boigny. |
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| Abdou
Diouf Général de Gaulle Henri Konan Bédié Frederik W. De Klerk Nelson Mandela |
Boutros
Boutros-Ghali Jacques Chirac Itzhak Rabin Yasser Arafat Moktar Ould Daddah Shimon Pérès |
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“There is no real conflict, says a Wolof proverb, only an absence of dialogue. I have always thought that, faced with the ideals which Félix Houphouët-Boigny constantly upheld, no one could better attest to the truth of this proverb than he.” Abdou
Diouf, |
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"A first class political mind, at ease with all matters concerning not only his own country but also those in Africa and the world.” |
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General de
Gaulle, |
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“Houphouët will always be our model and example. In life he was our guide; in death he remains our source of inspiration.” Henri
Konan Bédié, |
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“Félix Houphouët-Boigny has advocated, over many years, dialogue as an instrument of peace. At times he was a voice in the wilderness, but today we are encouraged by the extent to which his wise counsel has prevailed.”
“President Félix Houphouët-Boigny played an important role in the affairs of my country by taking the lead in encouraging dialogue between south Africa and the rest of our continent.” Frederik
W. De Klerk, |
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“Félix Houphouët-Boigny would not meet violence with violence. The route he chose was one of patience and endurance through justice, freedom and tolerance of the convictions of others and why not, as he so often said, love.”
“The great age at which he died had brought with it an experience and wisdom in the affairs, not only of Africa but humanity itself, that was palpable to those who met him.” Nelson
Mandela, |
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“When I was Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Egypt, I found in President Félix Houphouët-Boigny a vast understanding, particularly with regard to President Sadat’s initiative to go to Jerusalem. As soon as he was informed of it, Félix Houphouët-Boigny immediately voiced his encouragement for this step.” Boutros
Boutros-Ghali,
“Félix Houphouët-Boigny ranks among those outstanding individuals which providence brings forth on rare occasions over the centuries." “Above all, I admired the skillful intelligence with which he was able to make the happy marriage between a respect for the tradition within which he had been brought up, and the new values which he brought in, ideas inspired by the life-style of the industrialized countries to whose ranks he sought admission for his country.” Jacques
Chirac, |
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“President Félix Houphouët-Boigny appeared on the stage of history as an African leader but very soon became one of the most talented and remarkable leaders of history during this century. We, in Israel feel his loss no less keenly and we regret that he is not with us to see the fruits of Middle East peace for which he so greatly yearned, and for which he did so much.” Yitzhak
Rabin, |
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“I have not forgotten that he took advantage of an official visit to Israel in 1962 to advocate dialogue as a means of finding a solution to the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. He was one of the very first heads of State to see the problem from that angle, and it took considerable courage and clear-sightedness to declare, as he did at the time: There is no problem in the world, however difficult and knotty, that cannot be solved through negotiation. The Sage of Africa had seen right! May his example continue to inspire our action for the achievement of a peaceful and reconciled Middle East.” Yasser
Arafat, |
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“Cultivating the virtues of dialogue, tolerance and solidarity in a world where violence, intolerance and egoism all too often prevail, Félix Houphouët-Boigny has indelibly marked the end of the twentieth century, leaving for future generations, both a heritage that should remain a point of reference and a message of fraternity full of hope.” Moktar
Ould Daddah, |
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“Of all the titles given in the course of his long life – Father of his Country, Ram of Yamoussoukro, Sage of Africa, ‘the Old Man’ – the one he preferred was ‘Man of Peace’. A man of peace he truly was, and it is thus that I will always remember him.” Shimon
Peres, |
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