OWN CORRESPONDENT, Ottowa | Thursday 9.00am.
CANADA has given President Nelson Mandela a hero’s welcome at a rare meeting of the two chambers of the Canadian parliament in Ottowa.
Mandela, at the start of a two-day state visit to Canada, thanked a packed House of Commons chamber for Canadian support in the fight against apartheid in his country. He was awarded Canada’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada, becoming the first foreign leader ever to rrecieve it.
Mandela recalled that, as a private citizen soon after his release after 27 years in prison, he had addressed another joint meeting of the two houses of the Canadian parliament in 1990.
“Today,” he said, “I stand before you as the elected representative of the South African people to say thank you again, for helping us end our oppression, for assisting us through our transition, and now for our partnership in the building of a better life for all South Africans. We will forever be indebted to you.”
Mandela defended the presence of South African troops in Lesotho, saying: “South Africa is increasingly being called upon to play a role in peacekeeping in Southern Africa and in Africa as a whole,” he said. “Our approach is that we will play whatever part we can within our limited means, and within a multilateral framework.”
Later, Mandela was present at the signing od a series of pacts betweeb Canada and South Africa, including agreements on trade, sports and criminal matters.
One agreement sets up a bilateral framework for overcoming problems, as they arise, in matters of travel and investment between Canada and South Africa. Another agreement concerns sports, covering such topics as medicine, anti-drug controls, and programs to boost participation in sports by women and girls, and by individuals with disabilities. The third agreement declares mutual intent to begin talks on treaties conerning extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. The two countries plan two separate treaties on extradition and legal assistance.