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David Cameron: Mandela service offers world leaders chance for diplomacy David Cameron: Mandela service offers world leaders chance for diplomacy
(about 2 hours later)
World leaders will carry on Nelson Mandela's spirit of generosity and forgiveness by seizing the opportunity for diplomacy at the former South African leader's memorial service, David Cameron has said.World leaders will carry on Nelson Mandela's spirit of generosity and forgiveness by seizing the opportunity for diplomacy at the former South African leader's memorial service, David Cameron has said.
The British prime minister spoke of "extraordinary scenes" in Johannesburg as leaders, from America's Barack Obama to Cuba's Raul Castro, gathered to remember Mandela as crowds sang and danced their way into the arena.The British prime minister spoke of "extraordinary scenes" in Johannesburg as leaders, from America's Barack Obama to Cuba's Raul Castro, gathered to remember Mandela as crowds sang and danced their way into the arena.
Speaking ahead of the service on Tuesday, Cameron said leaders had been looking around "rather anxiously" to see who they were sitting next to at the FNB football stadium. Speaking before the service on Tuesday, Cameron said leaders had been looking around "rather anxiously" to see who they were sitting next to at the FNB football stadium.
"It's an extraordinary scene up there in the heads of state and government lounge," he told the BBC. "I was one of the first to arrive. I didn't want to get stuck in the traffic – very British, very punctual, get here on time. But we're going to see people from countries around the world, I think some very interesting speeches out here from leaders from China, America and obviously the president of South Africa. But it will be very interesting meeting other heads of state and government. "It's an extraordinary scene up there in the heads of state and government lounge," he told the BBC. "I was one of the first to arrive. I didn't want to get stuck in the traffic –very British, very punctual, get here on time. But we're going to see people from countries around the world, I think some very interesting speeches out here from leaders from China, America and obviously the president of South Africa. But it will be very interesting meeting other heads of state and government.
"A lot of other business will be done, I suspect. A lot of other meetings and a lot of other diplomacy will be going on up there. I'm sure there will be a lot of conversations up there, of course about Madiba and what he did for South Africa, but I suspect quite a lot of bilateral chats and other chats will be had because there will be some leaders, as you say, that we don't see that often.""A lot of other business will be done, I suspect. A lot of other meetings and a lot of other diplomacy will be going on up there. I'm sure there will be a lot of conversations up there, of course about Madiba and what he did for South Africa, but I suspect quite a lot of bilateral chats and other chats will be had because there will be some leaders, as you say, that we don't see that often."
Cameron praised Mandela's spirit of forgiveness that few others in public could follow, but emphasised his role as a politician.Cameron praised Mandela's spirit of forgiveness that few others in public could follow, but emphasised his role as a politician.
"That was one of the points that was made in the House of Commons yesterday," Cameron said. "Some of the politicians there said: 'Look, he really was a politician, he was a leader of a political movement, he achieved great things as the leader of that political movement', and we should think of him like that. He just was a particularly good politician.""That was one of the points that was made in the House of Commons yesterday," Cameron said. "Some of the politicians there said: 'Look, he really was a politician, he was a leader of a political movement, he achieved great things as the leader of that political movement', and we should think of him like that. He just was a particularly good politician."
Cameron was joined by former prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, as well as the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, as part of a large British political delegation at the ceremony. It is thought to be the first time for many years that all of the UK's surviving prime ministers have gone to the same event abroad, although they are likely to travel separately.Cameron was joined by former prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, as well as the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, as part of a large British political delegation at the ceremony. It is thought to be the first time for many years that all of the UK's surviving prime ministers have gone to the same event abroad, although they are likely to travel separately.
The unprecedented array of former and current political leaders will be among up to 100,000 people expected to attend. Around 50 world leaders have flown in for the service as part of South Africa's week-long official mourning, as well as celebrities such as Sir Richard Branson, Bono, Oprah Winfrey and the Spice Girls. The unprecedented array of former and current political leaders will be among up to 100,000 people expected to attend. About 50 world leaders have flown in for the service as part of South Africa's week-long official mourning, as well as celebrities such as Sir Richard Branson, Bono, Oprah Winfrey and the Spice Girls.
Crowds of mourners are also expected to descend on the arena where Mandela made his last public appearance for the closing ceremony of the 2010 football world cup. Crowds of mourners are also expected to descend on the arena where Mandela made his last public appearance for the closing ceremony of the 2010 football World Cup.
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