SOUTH AFRICA: Former US President Bill Clinton opens exhibition to mark Nelson Mandela's 89th birthday

An exhibition of photographs featuring the late anti-apartheid icon Chief Albert Luthuli and former South African President Nelson Mandela was opened by former US President Bill Clinton in Johannesburg today (July 19). The exhibition dubbed 'Making Peace' explores the relationship between the two leaders who are also both Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Luthuli was the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) when the organisation decided to embark on an armed struggle against the apartheid regime. Mandela led the ANC three decades later as the organisation negotiated a peace settlement with the South African government. The exhibition is just one of a host of colourful events that were used to mark Mandela's 89th birthday. "In the grace and beauty of his later years, he doesn't even have to say anything for us to know that you look better, you feel better and you live better, if you think our common humanity is more important than our interesting differences, that is the legacy the rest of us must keep alive forever," Clinton said. Both Clinton and Mandela have been openly critical of President George W. Bush's administration for its stance on Iraq. Clinton's wife Hillary is running for the Democratic nomination for president and she has been calling on Bush to pull troops out of Iraq. Clinton added: "I know that the answer ultimately would be the reconciliation of the forces within the country and an understanding with their neighbours. We don't get that, I don't care how many troops you send, but you can't impose a military solution on this." Asked about his wife's prospects in the 2008 presidential elections, Clinton said: "I do hope, if the American people elect her, and I hope she'll win, because I think she's the best qualified non-incumbent I've ever had the chance to vote for, just because of the unusual life she's lived in, and the things she's done. The former President pledged to help his wife if he were to become the US's first 'First Gentleman', but said he hoped to continue his work with the Clinton Foundation, which aims to combat AIDS, climate change, and poverty in Africa. He said: "If she were elected I would do whatever I was asked to do, but I hope I won't have to give up my Foundation work, I'd like to divide my time, you know give and take 50/50, just because I think it's important, and I think it's important for America, I already told you, I think, you know we need, I'm all for a strong national defence, but we need to spend some time and money building a world with more partners and fewer enemies. It costs less and it does more good over the long run, so I hope I won't have to give that up, but I will do whatever I'm asked to do and I hope I will be invited to the balls, I like those balls" Other highlights of Mandela's birthday celebrations have been a high-profile football match, ceremonies in Mandela's former prison, and a lecture by the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The annual Mandela Children's Party will end the celebrations on July 22.

ITN Source | July 21, 2007

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