April - Department of Defence

events
Veterans from around
the globe gathered
16
By PO Dennis Ndaba
Photo: Sgt David Nomtshongwana
Mr Thabo Mbeki,
President of South
Africa, formally
opened the 24th
General Assembly
of the World
Veterans Federation
(WVF). The General
Assembly was held
at the Sandton
Convention Centre
from 30 November to 5 December
2003.
The WVF is an international nongovernmental
organisation, which
brings together associations of those
who have experienced the sufferings
of war, fighting side by side or facing
each in combat, and who want to contribute
to the establishment of a more
peaceful, just and free world based on
S A S O L D I E R A P R I L 2 0 0 4
the principles of the Charter of the
United Nations and the International
Bill of Human Rights.
War veterans, resistance fighters,
former deportees and prisoners of
war from six countries founded it on
29 November 1950 in Paris. The aim
of the Federation is to maintain international
peace and security by the
application of the letter and spirit of
the Charter of the United Nations and
by respecting human rights and the
fundamental freedoms set forth in the
International Bill of Human Rights
and other international instruments.
During his keynote address
President Mbeki said that our country
and continent have not been spared
the trauma of war. A number of
African countries are not at peace. As
with all military conflicts, those on
our continent leave behind a haunting
legacy not only of death, but of war
veterans who need the closest
President Thabo Mbeki (left) receives a gift from Mr Datuk A. Hamid Ibrahim,
the President of the WVF.
Establishing a
more peaceful,
just and free
world.
attention and support of their societies.
In addition there are soldiers
and civilians who carry many disabilities,
displaced persons, and
destroyed infrastructure.
"I am indeed very pleased that
this General Assembly will discuss
many of these issues with a view to
ensure that all our countries and the
international community as a whole
respond to the consequences of war
and military conflict in an appropriate
manner that reaffirm respect for
human life and the dignity of all persons.
As a country we too still face
the consequences of various military
conflicts that took place both within
our country and outside our borders.
Among others, we have a continuing
responsibility to ensure that our own
war veterans are treated properly and
given the support they so richly
deserve. Our Government is therefore
very interested in the outcome of
your deliberations, which should help
us to improve our performance with
regard to the welfare of our war
veterans," President Mbeki said.
President Mbeki further elaborated
that he was certain that nobody
who had experienced the destructive
fury of war would wish to see any
people exposed to military conflict.
"I am therefore convinced that the
World Veterans Federation cannot
but be among the foremost advocates
in the world for peace and the resolution
of conflicts by peaceful means.