President Michael D. Higgins has participated in events taking place in Chile- marking the 50^th anniversary of the coup d’état which overthrew the democratically elected Salvador Allende on 11 September 1973.

At the request of current Chilean President Gabriel Boric, President Higgins contributed a video message-in both English and Spanish- which will be played at an event attended by Heads of State in Santiago today (Monday 11 September).

President Higgins also declared his support for the ‘Santiago Commitment’, which will be signed by those participating in the event. The document commits signatories to caring for and defending democracy, condemning violence, promoting peaceful resolution of differences, defending human rights, and strengthening the spaces for collaboration between nations.

“In times that are dark in so many parts of our existence, it is a shaft of light, hope and mutual commitment to democracy that President Boric’s invitation and the Santiago Commitment represents,” says President Higgins in his video message.

“In 1988, I visited Chile in my role as an Observer to the Plebiscite of that year, which mandated the end of the dictatorship and ushered in the return of democracy. Those I met in 1988 in Chile I will never forget, be it their agony or their courage,” he continued.

“Chile will always be a place very close to my heart. How wonderful it is to see the lead being given by your President in addressing the issues of inclusion, justice, responsible ecological values, respect for culture, indigeneity, and the deepening of democracy- It is my hope that it will be the beginning of a conversation which will spread throughout the continents.”

Download the video in both English and Spanish here.