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2002 - Extracts from other Adresses |
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Mr Kim Holmes Mr Mamadou Bamba “(…)This
is a just and fitting tribute which is also paid to the work for peace,
progress, freedom, dignity and independence that you have embodied
throughout your life and brought to your country, despite so many years of
colonization, servitude and hardship. I
should therefore like to join all those who have preceded me here on the
podium to congratulate you warmly on behalf of Côte d'Ivoire, its
Government and its President. (…) “ __________________ Mr Michel de Bonnecorse Sustained
by the certainty that his cause was just, he was brought to power on 14
April 2002 by democratic elections in which he won 82% of the vote. As
a result of this great victory, he assumed the highest office in
Timor-Leste on 20 May 2002. This
Prize therefore comes at an ideal time as a tribute to his courage,
determination and unfailing personal commitment to the process of national
reconciliation in his country. We
should never lose any opportunity to recall our admiration for men and
women who are capable of meeting such immense challenges, the last, but by
no means the least, of which is to negotiate with the people who,
yesterday, were enemies, have today become interlocutors, and will be the
partners of tomorrow. This example is clearly one of encouragement on the
road to Mr Amara Essy Mr Pedro Roseta “(…)The
Government and people of Portugal are very pleased - in fact, the
President is extremely popular in my country - that, not only President
Xanana Gusmão's exceptional courage, but also his decisive contribution
to human rights, peace and reconciliation are being acknowledged once
more. His
stature as a great nation-builder, on a par with other eminent persons who
have marked the twentieth century, is clear today. It is therefore an
honour to all Portuguese-speaking people, Mr President, that you should be
a member of their Community. (…) __________________ Mr Mário Soares “(…)
President Xanana Gusmão, of whom I am honoured to be a personal friend,
has today become a unanimously respected world figure. When I try to
compare his political and moral image with that of any of his contemporary
counterparts, the one who immediately comes to mind is Nelson Mandela. Both
men of causes and convictions, both selfless strugglers in defending their
respective peoples and both prisoners for many years - sometimes under the
harshest conditions - in suffering, they refined their qualities to become
true sages, tolerant and uncommonly generous. Rooted in their peoples'
traditions, they have both attained universal stature. The words that
define them best are courage, an innate sense of dignity, total devotion
to their peoples' cause and simplicity. It
is not by chance that these exceptional men - Mandela and Xanana - were,
in different years, honoured with the Peace Prize that bears the
illustrious name of the great African statesman, Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
Both names are being added to the list of prizewinners. It is an honour to
the prestigious Prize and it is an undeniable honour to them as well.(…)” Congratulatory
Message by Mr
Junichiro Koizumi Delivered
by H.E. Teiichi Sato, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,
Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO “(…)
Just a few weeks ago, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste celebrated
the very first anniversary of her full independence. I am particularly
pleased that, upon achieving the independence of his nation, H.E.
President Gusmão chose to embed the country firmly on the side of peace.
That choice contributes to reinforcing stability in the entire
Asia-Pacific region. Consolidation
of peace is one of Japan's major priorities. Japan has contributed to
building peace in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in many ways. |
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