President Lee Myung-bak on Sunday deeply mourned the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, issuing a special statement of condolence recalling the close friendship they developed and underscoring how hard the late leader worked to pull the African nation out of poverty.
Meles died suddenly on Aug. 20 from an unidentified illness at the age of 57 after two decades at the helm of the African nation. The late leader was scheduled to be buried in a state funeral Sunday that South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan was to attend as a special envoy of Lee.
On Sunday, Lee issued a long statement to mourn the prime minister's passing, calling Meles "a close friend," "a warm-hearted and passionate gentleman" and "a truly bright mind who lived an intense and moving life." Lee also pledged to honor all commitments Seoul made to help with Ethiopia's economic development.
"We all have just lost a great leader of Ethiopia and a preeminent advocate for Africa and the developing world. On this occasion, I offer my deepest condolences to the people of Ethiopia," Lee said in the statement. "I pray for the repose of a truly bright mind who lived an intense and moving life -- my close friend."
Last year, Lee made a state visit to Ethiopia, becoming the first South Korean president to do so. The trip was highly meaningful because Ethiopia was the only black African nation that shed blood for South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, with more than 6,000 Ethiopian troops fighting alongside the South and more than 120 of them killed in battles with North Korea.
During the visit, Lee also engaged in volunteer work, spraying disinfectant in alleys and toilets at poverty-stricken villages, one of a series of activities aimed at repaying South Korea's debt to its wartime ally. The volunteer service "was the most rewarding experience in my life," Lee said in the statement.
Lee said his friendship with Meles developed rapidly since they first met in 2009 at a G20 summit.
"During a short break, he came to me and said that he had read a lot about Korea's industrialization. He also said that he regarded Korea as a role model for Ethiopia. His warm smile and soft voice made me feel very close to him even though we met for the first time, Lee said. "It was not long before I realized that there was a burning passion behind his gentleness. That was how our friendship began."
The two leaders have since met on as many as eight different occasions, every time having "heart-to-heart" discussions on a wide range of issues, including global peace and the development of Ethiopia, Africa and developing nations, Lee said.
Lee praised Meles for his unceasing efforts to achieve political stability and economic development in Ethiopia. Such endeavors made it possible for the African nation to continue to post double-digit economic growth, transforming the country into "one of the most dynamic nations in Africa," he said.
When South Korea hosted a G20 summit in 2010, the host nation made development a top agenda for the forum. Lee said Meles' eyes "were brimming with tears" while thanking for putting forward the development agenda. His tears were the "tears of Africa and the whole developing world," Lee said.
"Sadly, Prime Minister Meles passed away at a time when Ethiopia is poised to take a leap economically. But his all-consuming passion to achieve prosperity for his country will remain intact. He left behind profound inspiration and visions for his homeland and people," Lee said.
"I firmly believe that his living legacies will grow into a big tree in the heart of each Ethiopian, enabling the country to stand tall in the center of world history again. The Republic of Korea will continue to honor all the promises it has made to Ethiopia and stand by its people." (Yonhap)