Foreign Secretary congratulates South Africa on Freedom Day
Foreign Secretary William Hague congratulates South Africa on Freedom Day
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The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Right Honourable William Hague welcomes Freedom Day in South Africa with this video-blog.
The Foreign Secretary congratulates the people of South Africa on 20 years of freedom and democracy. The Foreign Secretary highlights South Africa’s achievement in the transition from the oppressive Apartheid regime to a democratic society. He notes that South Africa demonstrated to the world that an end to discrimination is a universal aspiration held by all colours and races. The Foreign Secretary recalls the work of former President Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to bring truth and reconciliation to South Africa in the post-Apartheid era, saying that “President Mandela’s vision of an inalienable right to justice and freedom for all continues to inspire people across the world”
The Foreign Secretary adds that the links between the United Kingdom and South Africa have developed and matured through 20 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa. The relationship is broad and deep as demonstrated at the bilateral forum between the United Kingdom and South Africa in September 2013. These links range across the wide connections between the people of the United Kingdom and South Africa on trade, tourism, culture, education, science, sport and many other areas. This is the platform of our 20/20 Vision programme, to mark 20 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa with 20 partnerships for the future between the United Kingdom and South Africa.