Софийски университет "Св. Климент Охридски"

Professor Simeon Nedkov, Secretary of the Bulgaria – South Africa Forum of Friendship, opened the event and welcomed the audience. Her Excellency, Ms. Vanessa Calvert, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to this country, said that it was her extreme pleasure to congratulate everyone on the occasion. She stressed first UNESCO’s strategic importance, and, then, outlined the dedication that Irina Bokova herself showed, as a Bulgarian diplomat, to popularize the ideas of united Europe that has made her a logical choice as lector on the event. “She has been actively involved in the international efforts to give wider access to high quality education to all, equality of the sexes, cultural dialogue and scientific cooperation for sustainable development. She defends the freedom of speech and the safety of journalists. These are the values and ideals which my leader has presented to the world.” Vanessa Calvert added.

Professor Simeon Nedkov

Irina Bokova thanked the Ambassador for her initiative and the cordial introduction, the Rector of the University, and all the guests. She also remarked that there was hardly any better place than the University of Sofia, the oldest and most prestigious academic institution in Bulgaria, epitomizing the Bulgarian centuries-long cultural, educational and spiritual tradition, to honor the man and the fighter for equality and freedom, Nelson Mandela. It was he who said: “Education is the most powerful weapon that you can make use of to change the world.” According to Irina Bokova, we have to persevere in our struggle for education to all people, irrespective of their color of skin, sex, religious allegiance, and other differences.

“What is of particular importance for us, in UNESCO, is Mandela’s motto: “In order to be free, it is not enough just to throw off someone’s shackles; man must accept the freedom of the others, too”. Nelson Mandela called for reconciliation in the transition from the three-century period of white minority domination to multi-racial democracy of what he called “the rainbow nation” and he himself turned into a symbol of the struggle against the regime of apartheid for equality, democracy, and the resistance of the millions of people, not only in Africa, but all over the world”, Irina Bokova said.

Vanessa Calvert

In her speech she traced the major landmarks in Nelson Mandela’s life and struggle for peace in South Africa and emphasized his strong connections with UNESCO. This year, UNESCO, the organization which has been intimately linked with the activities and the values that Nelson Mandela held in high esteem throughout his life, is celebrating its 70^th anniversary. The beginning of the jubilee starts off with a day dedicated to Nelson Mandela, one of the brilliant, indeed, the most brilliant ambassador of good will of the organization and a Nobel Peace Laureate.

Irina Bokova added, “Nelson Mandela taught us what self-sacrifice and total devotion mean. He showed us that we should not take the world as it is and that we can change it in spite of the difficulties that we must overcome. He also showed us something very important, namely, that we should not respond to violence with violence because freedom and democracy can be achieved only by means of justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness.”

In her words, it is very rare in world history that an individual with his charisma, perseverance, ideas and values could succeed in changing to such a radical degree the lives of millions of people and the organization of a whole state, and leave tremendous impact on the life of large human communities. Nelson Mandela has turned into a symbol of the struggle for democracy, freedom, and justice not only in his own country but in the countries all around the world. He has become not only a political but also a spiritual and intellectual leader of millions of people.

Irina Bokova

Irina Bokova also focused on the problems and the changes posed continually by the ever more globalizing world. Borders are getting blurred, the human mind is constantly giving birth to new inventions, innovations, and new technologies. The process of globalization aspires to cultural cooperation, imposes common values, decreases and ultimately annihilates the differences between peoples from different countries; it puts into place instead a wider and more constructive dialogue between religions, ethnic groups, and different cultures. According to Bokova, globalization is of such importance and pervasiveness due to its other aspect, too. From amongst the negative consequences of globalization the inequality of the sexes, the social inequality, the lack of tolerance and the acts of extremism should be singled out for their gravity. “UNESCO’s standpoint is that sustainability should start with guaranteeing the rights and the dignity of every human being through high quality education, social inclusion, freedom of expression, preservation of the cultural and historical heritage, the use of the huge potential of the new technologies, the innovations, and the sciences. This is UNESCO’s mission because it is the only international organization within the framework of the UN which has enough power to protect and stimulate human progress through education, science, and culture. Very often we quote the Preamble to our Constitution, which reads: “Since wars start in the people’s minds, then it is in the people’s minds that we should build the defense mechanisms of peace.”

She stressed that she believed firmly in the “soft strength” UNESCO can exert because it is acquiring particular significance nowadays. This is the strength which generates new ideas; it mobilizes action across our society in support of general progress. UNESCO is not an organization providing financial support for development but rather an organization creating the conditions for development. UNESCO does not have its peacekeeping force; UNESCO does not keep peace literally, but UNESCO most probably creates solid conditions for long-lasting peace. This is why UNESCO’s mission – in Irina Bokova’s words – represents the so-called “new humanism of the XX^st century”, a world of new, humane behavior, facing new realities and new horizons.

In her speech Irina Bokova dwelt on an important initiative of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, namely, to set up a scientific consultation council, presided by UNESCO, whose objective would be to establish the link between science and politics and to create possibilities for the politicians to pay closer attention to what the scientists have to say, the latter’s ideas, findings, analyses, and solutions concerning the most pressing problems of today’s life.

At the end of her lecture Irina Bokova re-echoed Nelson Mandela’s legacy “Now it is YOUR turn” and added that the best way to pay tribute to his memory is to follow him. We all should in our own way make it part of ourselves what Nelson Mandela left to us as the mission of his life legacy. Indeed, this means each and everyone of us!” Mrs Bokova concluded that Mandela was truly convinced that every human being in their individual way can contribute to the making of a better world.