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Estonian Head of State expressed his condolences on the occasion of the death of Nelson Mandela

06.12.2013

The President, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, sent a letter of condolences to the Head of the South African Republic, Jacob Zuma, on the occasion of the death of Nelson Mandela.

"The world has lost a symbol of great goodness and humanism and an icon of peace, forgiving and resistance; a wise man; a master of his own fate and a captain of his own soul," wrote the Estonian Head of State, lending words from the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley, which gave strength to Nelson Mandela during his 27 years in prison.

President Ilves expressed condolences to the people of South Africa on behalf of the Estonian people and himself and also stated his conviction that the example, ideas and convictions of Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South African Republic from 1994-1999, will stay with us for many years to come.

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