He also denied any role in the unequal distribution of funding along racial and ethnic lines during his time as minister of education in South Africa.
"We should close the book on the past," de Klerk said.
De Klerk focused his speech on the theoretical problems of cutural strife within nations, drawing examples from current international crisises such as Bosnia and the "often-ignored" civil war in Sudan.
He did not, however, address the history of South Africa.
In his distinct Afrikaaner accent, de Klerk philosophized about extending the concept of individual rights to communities, to protect groups just as governments now protect individuals.
He also pointed to intercommunal conflict among ethnic, religious and cultural groups as the cause of much of the world's problems.
"Why are there so many serious conflicts? Analysis will show it was a failure to manage diversity," de Klerk told the crowd.
Read more in News
Students Go Digital In Valentine Date SearchRecommended Articles
-
Seeking Credibility and TruthSitting in the ARCO Forum on Feb. 7, I could hardly believe what I was hearing. F.W. de Klerk, the
-
Journalism in Africa: Chronicling Turmoil......And Defining the 'Opposition Press'During the four years he traversed Africa--visiting 48 of 51 countries, Los Angeles Times correspondent David Lamb observed a continent
-
Mandela, de Klerk Win Peace NobelNelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress (ANC), and F.W. de Klerk, president of South Africa, shared the Nobel
-
De Klerk Elected South African PresidentCAPE TOWN, South Africa--National Party leader F.W. de Klerk was elected yesterday to a five-year term as president and was
-
John Kerry Visits Study GroupUntil the U.S. is certain the government of South African President F.W. de Klerk will take further steps towards breaking
-
Tutu Proposes New Plan For Harvard DivestmentCiting favorable developments in his country this weekend, South African Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu yesterday proposed a new divestment plan