SOUTH AFRICA: COMMONWEALTH MEETING скачать в хорошем качестве

SOUTH AFRICA: COMMONWEALTH MEETING

(12 Nov 1999) English/Nat South African President Thabo Mbeki called for a "new human reality" on opening the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting of the century in Durban. Mbeki and outgoing Commonwealth Secretary General Emeka Anyaoku welcomed the 47 heads of government and Britain's Queen Elizabeth, head of the 54-member group of mainly Anglophobe countries. A traditional Xhosa choir chanted and danced. The old freedom song of South Africa's liberation struggle. It's now part of the new national anthem of the rainbow nation. Much of the ceremony celebrated the transition to democracy - seen as the Commonwealth's greatest achievement. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We extend our sincere appreciation to the Commonwealth and to all it's individual members for their sustained struggle you waged to ensure that we ended the apartheid crime against humanity." SUPER CAPTION: Thabo Mbeki, African President The Commonwealth adopted democracy as its leading principle 50 years ago. Nigeria and Sierra Leone were suspended in the past four years and reinstated after free elections. The most extreme step is expulsion, as happened to South Africa during 33 years of apartheid rule. At times the ceremony seemed like a showcase for the creativity of the host nation, a sharing in the love of the African nations. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I have very personal reasons for feeling a special affection for Africa. For it was in Cape Town in 1947 on my 21st birthday that I committed my life to the serve of the Commonwealth. And it was in Kenya that word reached me about the death of my father and of the responsibilities that I then assumed as Queen and head of the Commonwealth in 1952. My life was transformed by those events." SUPER CAPTION: Queen Elizabeth II But a heavy shadow hangs over the Commonwealth's fiftieth anniversary. A member is missing - Pakistan. Government leaders who are here will have tough discussion about what should be done after last month's military coup. A full suspension from the Commonwealth is highly unlikely. Although the Commonwealth's rules insist on democratic government. On Wednesday, the first full day of her visit to South Africa, the Queen met former President Nelson Mandela and nine teenagers. They provided her with startling insights into post-apartheid South Africa in essays about child rape, AIDS and other evils that mar their young lives. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...