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Extract from remarks by President Higgins at a lunch for world leaders hosted by President Jacob Zuma, Pretoria, South Africa

Date: Sun 1st Dec, 2013 | 14:35

Note: President Higgins was invited to speak on behalf of the European Union

President Higgins said that he was honoured to speak on behalf of Ireland and the European Union. “Nelson Mandela’s legacy will last not only for Africa but for the world.” He spoke of the effect of Mr. Mandela’s speeches in European capitals following his release in 1990. “He breathed great courage into movements that required great change including the ending of apartheid.”

President Higgins spoke of Mr. Mandela’s work in the areas of HIV/AIDs, global poverty and inequality. “He had a great combination of head and heart, intellectual strength and emotional power. The best way to honour his values is to bring them to the centre of challenges facing our times.”

He spoke of the “importance of using our hearts and heads to realise the unrealised possibilities of our humanity.” The President said that “we should follow Mandela’s example in bringing creativity and flexibility to challenges of global poverty, inequality and to have the courage to bring new forms of solidarity into existence in international economics, trade, politics and diplomacy.”

President Higgins said that to have met Nelson Mandela was “to be in the presence of the great grace of the human spirit. He would want us to continue his efforts to put the stamp of humanity on our times for the sake of future generations.”