United Nations A/73/ PV.5 General Assembly Official Records Seventy-third session 5th plenary meeting Monday, 24 September 2018, 10.30 a.m. New York President: Ms. Espinosa Garcés.................................... (Ecuador) The meeting was called to order at 10.40 a.m. participants are encouraged to refrain from listing standard protocol expressions during their statements. Agenda item 66 (continued) Bearing in mind the time limit, I would like to appeal Peacebuilding and sustaining peace to speakers to deliver their statements at a reasonable pace so that interpretation into the six official United High-level plenary meeting, to be known as the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit Nations languages may be properly provided. The President (spoke in Spanish): Before we begin I appeal for the cooperation of all speakers in with the list of speakers, I would like to address some observing the time limits for statements so that all those important organizational matters pertaining to the inscribed will be heard in a timely manner. conduct of plenary meetings. Finally, in order to avoid disruption for the next I would like to appeal to all speakers to keep their speaker, I urge all representatives to remain in their seats statements brief and concise in order to make maximum after the delivery of each statement. In that connection, use of the limited time we have for this high-level I would like to invite speakers, after delivering their meeting. In order to enable all on the list of speakers statements, to exit the General Assembly Hall through to be heard, statements in plenary meetings should be room GA-200, located behind the rostrum, before limited to three minutes when speaking in a national returning to their seats. capacity and five minutes when speaking on behalf of a The Assembly will now hear an address by His group, as stipulated in resolution 72/243. Excellency Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic As members will recall, in its resolution 72/313, of of Rwanda. 17 September 2018, the General Assembly called for President Kagame: Nelson Mandela’s centenary strict adherence by each speaker to time limits in the presents us with an ideal moment to reflect on what Assembly, in particular during high-level meetings. To the legacy of the great African freedom fighter and assist speakers in managing their time, a light system statesman means for us today. He understood that has been installed at the speaker’s rostrum. Participants a politics of confrontation and division impedes a with longer statements are encouraged to read a nation’s social cohesion and progress. Even though the shorter version of their text and to submit their full- wounds were still fresh, he endeavoured to show that length statements to the Secretariat for posting on the the suffering that he and countless other South Africans PaperSmart portal. had endured could be redirected towards building a Also in accordance with resolution 72/313, the “all more positive future for his country. That was not an protocol observed” principle is recommended, whereby easy message, but President Mandela was a true leader This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org). 18-29599 (E) *1829599* A/73/PV.5 24/09/2018 and inspiring communicator. He did what was right, none of his fellow human beings would be oppressed or even when it was not popular. enslaved by another. In Rwanda, our tragic history has taught us the The centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth should importance of unity and inclusivity for reconciliation represent an appeal to the world never to forget the and nation-building. We work to ensure that all citizens infinite capacity for transformation that a leader and a have equal rights and opportunities and are able to people can possess when they want to correct the errors participate actively in shaping our country’s direction of the past and build a future. The legacy of Mandela in meaningful ways. That approach has enabled us means being able to rise above hatred, serving as an to restore trust in public institutions and also in one inspiration because this leader helped us to understand another. Inclusive and non-sectarian politics is not that in spite of our differences, the things that unite us advantageous in Africa only or in post-conflict are more important. situations. As the world has seen, nation-building and As Mandela himself said during his trial, national unity are good things wherever they take place. We are fortunate to have Nelson Mandela’s example to “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and keep bringing us back to that fundamental truth. free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal The President (spoke in Spanish): The Assembly which I hope to live for. But if needs be, it is an will now hear an address by His Excellency Mr. Iván ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Duque Márquez, President of the Republic of Colombia. We in Colombia are working hard to make that President Duque Márquez (spoke in Spanish): On ideal — of a united country that builds peace through 18 July 100 years ago, South Africa had the honour of the law — a reality. becoming the birthplace of an extraordinary human being. Later, the world had the honour of knowing and The President: The Assembly will now hear an learning from a great, virtuous, upright and courageous address by His Excellency Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa leader. Nelson Mandela was an inspirational man who Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana. transcended attitudes and generations, because he President Akufo-Addo: Once in a while, someone combined what few can achieve. He was a man, an icon, comes along who manages to leave an indelible imprint a prisoner, a President, a fighter and a peacemaker. on his generation and humankind. Nelson Mandela, the Nelson Mandela’s leadership was unique. man in whose memory this plenary meeting on global Today I am here representing a generation and peace is being held, is clearly one such person. In his a country that has found inspiration in Mandela’s own words, he dedicated his life to the struggle of the ideals. In Colombia, we are inspired by a society that African people for their freedom and development, is fraternal and noble, without exclusion or hatred. and “cherished the ideal of a democratic and free Without the exclusion that racism represents, our society in which all persons live together in harmony countries can make great transformations. And without and with equal opportunities”. The implementation of class discrimination, we can build a nation with that commitment not only secured for him 27 years freedom and justice, dignity and hope, one that never in the apartheid prison of Robben Island, but also his gives up and that desires to build peace through the law, undisputed place in the pantheon of the continent’s in equality and unity, one that understands very well notables as Africa’s greatest-ever leader. how sport and culture have the power to unite all races Nelson Mandela came from prison with probably and classes under the same flag. the most recognized name in the world, and the true That resilience, of which Nelson Mandela is a measure of the man was made evident when he helped symbol and which also characterizes Colombia, has to ensure a peaceful outcome of the negotiations among helped us to address violence, overcome extreme South Africa’s historical antagonists. Indeed, when all poverty and receive with open arms 1 million of our the experts predicted disaster prior to the negotiations, Venezuelan brothers and sisters, fleeing a terrible Nelson Mandela somehow managed to avert a civil war. dictatorship. Today’s Peace Summit is an opportunity He held his nerve and with his calm dignity disarmed to convey to new generations what Mandela’s life the most determined of those who wanted a fight to symbolized. It was a constant struggle to ensure that the death. After he won the historic elections of 1994, 2/86 18-29599 24/09/2018 A /73/PV.5 there was pressure on him to give the oppressors of requires patience, courage, new ways of thinking and a old a taste of their own medicine. But he stayed firm, readiness for reconciliation. Let us all uphold and carry helped to cement the reconciliation of post-apartheid on his legacy. South Africa and left office after one successful term The President (spoke in Spanish): The Assembly as President. will now hear an address by His Excellency Mr. Lenin It falls to us who come after him to make his dream Moreno Garcés, Constitutional President of the Republic of a peaceful world a reality, in which all of us, men and of Ecuador. women, young and old, live in harmony. He acted on President Moreno Garcés (spoke in Spanish): At the proposition that with a spirit of generosity, modesty, the outset, I am very grateful to the United Nations for humility and fellow-feeling, all of us are capable of inhabiting this planet in dignity, freedom, justice and its new facilities that allow persons with disabilities to solidarity.