Indian Prime Minister Singh meets former President Mandela

Описание: (3 Oct 2006) SHOTLIST

1. Wide of Nelson Mandela Foundation
2. Mid of journalists and cameramen
3. Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and former South African President Nelson Mandela walking towards media
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Nelson Mandela, former South African President:
"Indians influenced our struggle here and especially a man like Mahatma Gandhi so we respect them and honour them when they come."
5. Cutaway of photographer
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Manmohan Singh, Indian Prime Minister:
" For us in India you are the living legend the greatest Gandhian of our age. You have transformed the lives of millions (m) and millions (m) of people and watched the miracle that you have done in South Africa of reconciling the irreconcilable. I think this is the part that would lead all of us in the 20th Century away from the trouble that existence which the world finds itself in today. I salute you on behalf of the people of India, we love you and once again and on behalf of the President of India, Mrs Gandhi and the people of India, I convey to you my respectful regards."
7. Wide of Mandela and Singh with people gathered around
8. Mandela and Singh shaking hands

STORYLINE

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday paid tribute to former South African president Nelson Mandela, calling him the "greatest Gandhian" of all time.

Singh met Mandela at the end of a three-day state visit that coincided with the 100th anniversary of the peaceful resistance movement launched in South Africa by Indian pacifist Mohandas K. Gandhi.

"For us in India you are the living legend the greatest Gandhian of our age. You have transformed the lives of millions (m) and millions (m) of people and watched the miracle that you have done in South Africa of reconciling the irreconcilable," added Singh.

In return Mandela thanked Singh for the role India played in the struggle against apartheid.

"The Indians influenced our struggle a great deal, especially a man like Mahatma Gandhi," said Mandela.

South Africa and India, both leaders of the non-aligned movement championing the rights of the poor, enjoy close political ties not least due to the support given by India to the anti-apartheid movement.

India was the first country to implement sanctions against South Africa over apartheid.

Earlier Singh backed South Africa's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

India and South Africa are some of the countries hoping for a permanent seat on a reformed security council.

Singh's visit, the first by an Indian leader in nine years, has focussed on boosting already strong relations between the two countries.

Singh and the current South African President Thabo Mbeki signed a series of agreements to strengthen economic
cooperation and boost trade, which is currently worth about four billion (b) US dollars each year.

On Sunday the two leaders unveiled a plaque and laid a wreath in Gandhi's honour in Durban on the site where thousands of non-whites courted arrest in the 1940s by gathering in defiance of apartheid laws.

Many pay tribute to Gandhi for inspiring the triumphant march to freedom and democracy both in India in 1947 and in South Africa in 1994.

Gandhi, was a young lawyer, when he arrived in South Africa in 1893 and spent 21 years developing his philosophies in various homes and farms across the country, before returning to India at the age of 46 to help fight for
independence from Britain.



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