I really wanted to retire and rest and spend more time with my children, my grandchildren and of course with my wife. But the problems are such that for anybody with a conscience who can use whatever influence he may have to try to bring about peace, it's difficult to say no.

Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom. Of course the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up.

One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.

The United States of America is a threat to world peace. Because what [America] is saying is that if you are afraid of a veto in the Security Council, you can go outside and take action and violate the sovereignty of other countries. That is the message they are sending to the world. That must be condemned in the strongest terms.

Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great, you can be that generation

I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.

Sport has the power to change the world... Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair.