30 NOVEMBER-1 DECEMBER, 1992
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
This consultative meeting is being convened at a most opportune time as political events in South Africa continue to unfold calling for coordinated, consistent and effective responses from the international community.
A number of events in the recent past have given the international community reason for cautious optimism, such as the signing of the National Peace Accord in September 1991, the convening of CODESA I and the result of the all-white referendum last March. It was felt that the political process had acquired sufficient momentum to enable the parties concerned to agree on a new constitutional order and forge ahead towards a new democratic South Africa. That brief euphoria gave way to discouragement and despair after the deadlock of CODESA II in May at the upsurge in political violence, notably the killings in Boipatong, Bisho, Folwani and other townships. Meanwhile, the South African economy has sunk into a deeper recession with continued high unemployment. The gross domestic product took a steep drop in the third quarter of 1992 which might yet reflect its deepest decline in eight years. The drought, capital flight and drop in consumer confidence were given as primary reasons for this decline.
At the General Assembly debate on South Africa two weeks ago, where about 60 Member States spoke on vital issues, the mood was resolute in continuing the application of appropriate measures to pressure the South African authorities to move forward with a negotiated settlement with democratic forces in South Africa as well as to put an end to the violence which has been seen to jeopardize any probable success of the political process. The debate also addressed the government's undeniable responsibility to address the socio-economic inequalities that are deeply entrenched in South African society and the need for the international community to assist South Africans in overcoming the legacies of apartheid.
During the past difficult months, it was to the credit of the United Nations, other inter-governmental organizations and anti-apartheid organizations, such as yours, to have spared neither time nor effort to help keep the issue of apartheid on the front burner of world politics and to keep the precarious political process from being derailed.
The Security Council, which convened at the request of the Organization of African Unity, provided a forum for Member States as well as political organizations from inside South Africa to put forth their positions on the spiralling violence and the need to adopt urgent measures to curb it. The Council called upon all parties to cooperate in bringing the violence to a halt and to abide by the National Peace Accord.
The timely despatch of the Secretary-General's Special Representative as well as UN observers has been welcomed by the international community. Their presence was viewed as a deterrent to violence and a stabilising effect on the present volatile situation. Observers from the OAU, EC and the Commonwealth have since joined the UN to help reinforce the much-needed international presence. Some Member States at the General Assembly debate, even called for an increase in the numbers of observers and the broadening of their mandate. Some specifically urged the Secretary-General to appoint an "eminent person" to deal on a full-time basis with the South African conflict as he has done with other conflicts. Such a gesture, it was felt, would go a long way towards enabling the United Nations to play essential catalytic and mediatory role.
The release of 42 political prisoners on November 15, following the earlier release of some 150 prisoners in late September, greatly contributes to an atmosphere of goodwill and provides a healing effect to a weary and pained country. However, reports of continued ill-treatment of remaining political prisoners, high number of deaths in police custody and the delay of South African authorities investigating and addressing these reports as well as the recent revelations by the Goldstone Commission of the involvement of the South African Military Intelligence in covert illegal activities aimed at destabilizing the ANC, in particular, reinforce the mistrust of the police and security forces by the majority of South Africans. It is most urgent and necessary that the police and defence forces in South Africa be reminded of their duty to protect the life, security and dignity of all South Africans. The retraining of security forces is an essential requirement for the transition to a post-apartheid South Africa.
The international community continues to support the two-pronged approach of pressure and assistance. The lifting of the oil ban or the mandatory arms embargo is still considered premature and counterproductive. The same applies to the ban on new investment, finance and trade. Assistance to disadvantaged South Africans is being given prominence on the agenda, especially in the humanitarian field and in human resource development.
The United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa continues to make inroads in the fields of education, training and human resource development in South Africa. Under the able leadership of Ambassador Huslid of Norway, the Programme is geared to open up training and education opportunities until recently not available to a majority of students, to meet current manpower needs and to assist returning exiles. The Programme is increasingly focused on training inside South Africa.
The Record of Understanding of September 26th between the South African authorities and the ANC as well as ongoing bilateral talks also with and between other parties give us renewed hope for early elections. As the historic consensus Declaration on Apartheid states, apartheid will have been eradicated only when a new, non-racial constitution has been adopted and a new government has been elected as a result of free and fair elections. The immediate task ahead of reaching agreement on a broad negotiating forum and on the modalities regarding transitional arrangements are the responsibility of the political parties concerned. It is incumbent on these political parties to draw on their wisdom and foresight, to transcend their contingent differences, and to focus on a common platform and arrangements that should enable all South Africans to live side by side in peace, freedom and justice and to work together to build the bright future which should be theirs.
In discharging this responsibility they will need the continued support of the international community, and not least of the anti-apartheid movements and the NGO community.