Embassy Belgium Nelson Mandela

Posted on Author Frank Akino
Belgian Mission to the United Nations Nelson Mandela

Belgium Presents Gift to United Nations

Johan Verbeke (at podium), Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nation, presents a portrait to the UN, of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, and painted by a Belgian artist, Jan Beekman, at UN Headquarters in New York.

Also at the ceremony from right to left: David Dinkins, former Mayor of New York City; Dumisani Kumalo, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the UN; Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy Secretary-General; Alice Hecht, Chief of UN Protocol; and Jan Beekman, Belgian artist.

Artist Mr. Jan Beekman Mandela Foundation

Belgium Presents Gift to United Nations

Jan Beekman, Belgian artist, speaks at the presentation ceremony of a portrait of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa; as a gift from the Belgian Government to the United Nations, at UN Headquarters in New York.

Asha-Rose Migiro Nelson Mandela Beekman Foundation

Belgium Presents Gift to United Nations

Asha-Rose Migiro (at podium), UN Deputy Secretary-General, speaks at the presentation ceremony of a portrait of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, to the United Nations, by the Belgian Mission, and painted by a Belgian artist, Jan Beekman, at UN Headquarters in New York.

Evoking her own recollections of when Nelson Mandela, or Prisoner 46664, walked out of prison after 27 years, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro paid tribute to the founding president of post-apartheid South Africa at the unveiling of his portrait at UN Headquarters in New York.

“Most Africans of my generation retain a very strong association with Mr. Mandela’s walk to freedom,” Ms. Migiro said at ceremony at UN Headquarters Thursday evening.

The portrait by Jan Beekman “could not hang in a better place,” she said. “Its spot near the Security Council brings one of the world foremost voices for peace and justice to the world’s leading forum for international peace and security.”

Ms. Migiro also emphasized how Mr. Mandela, who she called “a true human treasure,” stands for tolerance, equality, justice and forgiveness, values also cherished by the UN.

“I hope that having Nelson Mandela watching over us will help inspire us in our daily work for a better, more just world,” she said. “After all, that would be the best tribute we can all pay to this great man.”

Embassy of Belgium in Pretoria | Embassy Belgium Nelson Mandela

IS FEELING THANKFUL!

Embassy Belgium Nelson Mandela

Embassy of Belgium in Pretoria is feeling thankful.

September 13 at 9:36 AM

'The Liberation of Nelson #Mandela' by Belgian artist, Jan Beekman, was painted of #Madiba at the time of his release from prison in 1990.

The original hangs at the United Nations offices in #NewYork, where Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Reynders and Minister Lindiwe_Sisulu met earlier this year.

A reproduction of this iconic painting was presented to Minister Reynders by Minister Sisulu at their bilateral meeting in #Pretoria on Monday.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation, SA
Beekman Foundation
Nelson Mandela Foundation
Support The Nelson Mandela and the Beekman Foundation

On the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, on July 18, the Beekman Foundation launched a silk-screen print of the iconic portrait which the Belgian-American artist Jan Beekman painted of the South-African leader, and which prominently hangs at the New York headquarters of the United Nations.

A reproduction of this iconic painting was presented to Minister Reynders by Minister Sisulu

Didier Reynders South Africa Beekman

We at the Beekman Foundation are very happy to see our work honored and wish to thank The Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Ambassador Sangqu and his staff, and all people involved turning the commemoration of the centenary into a worldwide success. Peace Madiba! “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela