Twenty years ago today...
South Africa will celebrate today the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from prison.
On 11 February 1990, Nelson Mandela, symbol of the end of the apartheid, was released from 27 years of political imprisonment and later became President of South Africa. Nobel Peace Prize Mandela supported reconciliation and negotiation, and helped lead the transition towards multi-racial democracy in South Africa.
The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, marked the event during the Plenary session of the House, followed by Michael Cashman, Chairman of the Delegation for Relations with South Africa.
"Nelson Mandela's final stretch on the road to freedom is the clear example that we are not imprisoned by our History, but liberated by it. It should never be forgotten, especially at a time when discriminations are still perpetrated all around the world", said Cashman, Labour Spokesperson on Development in the European Parliament.
"As Chairman of this Houses' Delegation to South Africa, I recognise the grandeur and the impact of this anniversary. Our sustainable relations with South Africa and the continuous inter-parliamentary work carried has never been the same since this historical figure changed the face of the country - and maybe of the continent ", he continued.
Nelson Mandela will attend President Jacob Zuma's speech on the State of the Nation later today. The current President of South Africa will pay tribute to him, and several side-event celebrations will take place throughout the country.
In November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly announced that Mandela's birthday, 18 July, is to be known as 'Mandela Day' marking his contribution to world freedom.
Thu Feb 11 2010, 11:50AM
Tory exposure: they can not be trusted with fundamental rights
The true face of the modern Conservative Party was exposed yet again in Strasbourg this week when David Cameron’s MEPs failed to support two important equality votes.
First of all the Conservative joined their extremist allies in the Parliament by refusing to support a report on equality between men and women in the European Union. Shortly afterwards, they failed to support amendments which called on the candidate states of Macedonia and Croatia to put right legislation which discriminates against people on the grounds of sexuality.
Following the vote, Michael Cashman MEP said:
“In politics, actions speak louder than words. Time and time again Tory MEPs fail to support equality measures and vote with their extremist bedfellows in the ECR group.
“Despite the rhetoric, and despite the self-denial, David Cameron can not airbrush over the reality which is that the Tories cannot be trusted with fundamental rights.”
Thu Feb 11 2010, 11:48AM
European Parliament reaffirms LGBT rights are a condition to join the European Union
Today the plenary session of the European Parliament adopted reports on the accession to the European Union for Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey. All three reports call on candidate countries to provide genuine protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender minorities, and remind candidate countries that the protection of all minorities is a non-negotiable condition to access the European Union.
Wed Feb 10 2010, 10:04AM
Go to page >>
