Speeches
- Written by: Sheikh Ibrahim Jibril, Head, Islamic Courts Council of Cape Town, South Africa
“[It is] very seldom that history gives birth to such great leaders as Nelson Mandela. I want to say to the great leadership of the Universal Peace Federation and this beautiful audience here today and all the people of the world that in Nelson Mandela you have the best of role model to bring about peace and love amongst all the people of the world and amongst all religions of the world.”
- Written by: Hon. Baleka Mbete, Speaker, National Assembly, South Africa
“[Madiba] was a leader who would listen, process, consider and come back with a response that showed that he cared. He was not a person who was a dictator, saying go this way and that's it; I'm not prepared to listen to anything else. I think we need many more Madibas in that respect.”
- Written by: Dr. N’Kumu Frey, DR Congo parliamentarian and IAPP chairperson
[T]here must be a will to act. Saemaul is a philosophy to be put into action. For development to come, there must be a revolution of the mind and a change of mentality. In those early days, the Korean people thought of themselves as beggars, depending on outside help. The World Bank did an investigation of the country. Their conclusion? “Korea is just a big black hole. If you give them money, there won’t be any return on the investment.” But thanks to the New Village Movement or Saemaul, the Korean people woke up. “Unless we do it ourselves, no one will do it,” they said. The national slogan became, “We can do it.”
- Written by: Chief Zwelivelile Mandela, Minister of Chiefs, Royal House of Mandela, and Member of Parliament, South Africa
“[Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s] historic struggle has inspired many to also dedicate their lives to serving the human family and to give hope to the hopeless, to care for the destitute and to build a heavenly highway to a world where we can all live together in peace as one family and as equals before God Almighty.”
- Written by: Chief Isaac Kapinga, Traditional Chief, Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Zambia
“We are extremely proud that we accepted as our comrades, our brothers and sisters, from those who wanted to hinder the liberation of not only South Africa but the neighboring country of Zambia. We provided them with clothes, shelter and other needs. Our enemies tried to scare us but they didn’t succeed.”
- Written by: Mr. Hassan M. Hussein: Military Attaché to Egypt, Somalia
“I bring greetings from my government and from the Somali people. We hope that there will be peace in the near future.”
- Written by: Hon. Joseph Mhagama, Member of Parliament, Tanzania
“Nelson Mandela had many choices. Being educated during that time and during that history he could have chosen not to engage in the route against apathy. He was a lawyer, he had the opportunity to live his life quietly, but he decided to stand for the truth because he believed truth is one, truth cannot be divided and truth cannot be compromised.”
- Written by: Hon. Al Habib Al Maliki, president of the House of Representatives, Morocco
Rabat, Morocco—We are launching the Moroccan branch of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace in the context of what has concerned the world today that necessitates the establishment and stabilization of peace, tolerance, cooperation and justice, as well as what has concerned the defenders of these values and principles.
- Written by: Mr. Adel Jamati, director, UPF-New Zealand
“The fundamental force by which God created the universe is His irrepressible force of selfless giving. The act of creation is an act of total giving. The entire creation is infused with that essence. Life and the universe are governed by the sacred law of giving; we are to emulate God’s act of creation. We should be trained to care for others from an early age. When ‘caring for others’ exceeds ‘pleasing one’s self,’ the foundation for a peaceful home and a peaceful and prosperous society will be secured.”
- Written by: Hon. Andrei N. Svintsov, Deputy Chairman, State Duma Committee, Russia
“I particularly emphasize the important role of parliamentarians in democratic processes at all levels. . . . The role of parliamentarians is also important in ensuring peace, stability and economic growth.”
- Written by: Hon. Jong Seong Lim, Member of Parliament, Korea
“The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the peaceful settlement that will be developed in the future will make my heart beat.”
- Written by: Hon. Ramen Deka, Senior Member of Parliament, Indian Ruling Party, India
“Peace and development are two sides of the same coin: They are directly proportional to each other.”