at the Memory of the World (MOW) Committee workshop dinner
15 June 2007
Programme Director
Distinguished members of the MOW Committee and delegates to this workshop
Friends and comrades
Bonsoir! Good evening!
Welcome to this very special dinner. I trust that you enjoyed your stay in
our beautiful country as much as you enjoyed the work that you had to do.
You know, we just can't have enough of you. We enjoyed your being here. If it
were at all possible it would be wonderful if you could stay on for just
another few days to experience more of our wonderful country with its rich
variety of cultures, its natural splendours and, most importantly, it's very
special and friendly people (like me).
We have seven World Heritage Sites, one of these being the Robben Island
Museum, where our first President of a democratic South Africa, Comrade Nelson
Mandela, was incarcerated for nearly 27 years. You just can't leave South
Africa without visiting Robben Island. I'm saying this dinner tonight is
special because it gives you time to wind down and give yourselves a pat on the
back for a job well done.
What you have achieved in this week marks a significant milestone in our
continent�s history which is our resolve to collaborate closely to preserve and
protect our interlinked and common histories and heritage. By so doing we will
be contributing to the African Renaissance and to Africa's development.
We, the family of human kind, stand together, once again, in our effort to
address concerns about the future of our heritage, which can only be secured
through our collective and concerted actions. From here, as you will each
depart to go your separate ways, carrying the torch of hope which, I'm sure,
was rekindled during these few, but memorable days with new enthusiasm, we can
surely expect great developments in our various fields of expertise.
It was a great honour and pleasure for us, as the Government of the Republic
of South Africa and the Ministry and Department of Arts and Culture, to host
the MOW workshop. I'm sure that we have all made a lot of friends and also
renewed and strengthened old friendships, which we trust will make the bond
between us stronger and stronger.
We hope that we will see some of you again soon, perhaps this year still
during the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Conference
in Durban to be held from 19 to 23 August 2007. This conference will also be
hosted by our department. I wish you all the best of luck and a safe journey
back home.
Au revoir!
Merci beaucoup! I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
15 June 2007
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za)
