Cyril RAMAPHOSA, President of South Africa, addresses to MEPs during the formal sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

Strasbourg

EU - South Africa (T)

formal sitting

RAMAPHOSA, Cyril (ZA)

Address by Cyril RAMAPHOSA, President of South Africa: extracts from the formal sitting

SOUNDBITE (English), Cyril RAMAPHOSA, President of South Africa, It is indeed a great honour and a privilege to have this opportunity to address this gathering, particularly in the centenary year of the birth of Nelson Mandela, the founding father of our democratic nation. A revered statesman and a committed internationalist. We celebrate the centenary knowing well that Nelson Mandela does not belong to us as South Africans. he belongs to all of us and indeed to the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cyril RAMAPHOSA, President of South Africa, Just four months after his release from prison in 1990, Nelson Mandela paid his first visit to the European Parliament to receive the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought. He used this occasion to thank the leaders and the people of Europe for their contribution to the liberation of South Africa. And I also stand here like Nelson Mandela and thank the people of Europe for the contribution that they made to end apartheid.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cyril RAMAPHOSA, President of South Africa, We are here today following in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela to say we would urge you, we would call on you to continue supporting South Africa as it has embarked on a journey not only to reform itself, but to build a new South African nation from the ashes of apartheid.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cyril RAMAPHOSA, President of South Africa, We need to work together to address the root causes of irregular migration which include poverty, inequality, unemployment, economic exclusion and competition for scarce resources. This should be informed by the principles of solidarity, principles of compassion and by an unwavering commitment to the human rights of all the people of the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cyril RAMAPHOSA, President of South Africa, We are in the process of dealing with the question of land reform. We are now at a stage where we are engaging in a dialogue to see how best to this important resource can be utilized to develop our country. And through this the dialogue is leading us to a point where we are seeking to find solutions that will enable all South Africans to work together to resolve this problem.