The first invitation was given by Editor-in-Chief Jan Müller in Copenhagen in 1999. Another invitation was delivered, together with a Present, by the Danish Embassy in Pretoria on the occasion of Nelson Mandela’s 85th Birthday in 2003.
Sosialurin is taking the opportunity of Bill Clinton’s visit to the Faroe Islands to ask him to be the courier for the latest invitation to Nelson Mandela; a man who he greatly admires and counts as a personal friend.
The text of the invitation is set out below:
Dear Nelson Mandela
On two previous occasions I have sent you a written invitation to visit the Faroe Islands. This has been done in my capacity of Editor-in-Chief of Sosialurin the leading newspaper of the Faroe Islands which I am proud to say campaigned vigorously for your release during the dark days of the Apartheid era.
We are naturally sorry that you have not been able to take up these invitations but well understand how the many calls on your time mean that you have to be very careful about prioritising your travel destinations and rationing your appearances.
However, we would again wish to repeat the invitation and on this occasion to extend it to your colleagues on the recently formed Council of Elders. The founding of this body is indeed a momentous development. It can only be an immense new force for good to have the accumulated wisdom of the Council being brought to bear on some of the seemingly intractable problems we face in the world today.
The reason I am inviting you and your fellow Council members to the Faroe Islands is because of our strong belief that it would be an ideal location for you to conduct your deliberations. Our country offers a secluded stress-free environment enhanced by a closeness to nature. All this lends itself to creative thinking and discussion. And while you would be free from any unwarranted prying attention from the outside world you would at the same time have all the necessary conference facilities and the most modern information and communications tools at your disposal.
Our most recent distinguished visitor President Clinton has kindly agreed to forward this letter to you and I am sure that he will be more than happy to give his own personal testimonial about the unique attributes of the Faroe Islands. I should also mention that we are hoping to host a visit by your old friend and colleague Archbishop Desmond Tutu later in the Autumn and I trust that you will have no objection to us also presenting the invitation for the Council of Elders to meet in the Faroe Islands to him.
I should also mention that the Government and Parliament of the Faroe Islands are fully behind this invitation.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Jan Eiden Müller
Editor in Chief,
Sosialurin
