SEPTEMBER 24, 1993
Before we proceed further, I would request that we rise to observe a minute silence for the thousands of innocent people killed in the escalating political violence in South Africa. May their souls rest in peace.
I am indeed grateful to our distinguished Secretary-General, H.E. Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali; the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Samuel Insanally; and the President of the Security Council, H.E. Mr. Adolfo Taylhardat, for their presence with us this afternoon despite their very busy schedules. Their presence is a further testimony of the commitment of this august world body to the struggle against apartheid.
Distinguished Delegates,
We have gathered here today not to celebrate the death of apartheid because the time for that has not yet come. Rather, we are here to reaffirm the commitment of the international community to the process of peaceful change towards a united, non-racial a democratic South Africa. It is in this connection that this meeting is devoted to an audience with the President of the African National Congress (ANC), Mr. Nelson Mandela. Mr. Mandela is a leader who needs no introduction, certainly neither to this Committee nor, I believe, Member States of this world body. He has over the years symbolized the spirit of resistance to, and the struggle against, racism and racial oppression in South Africa. When on June 22, 1990, I had the great honour and unique privilege of presiding over our Committee's meeting which was specifically organized in his honour, following his release from prison, after serving about 27 years of incarceration by the racist regime in South Africa, I stated very unambiguously then that Mr. Mandela was the moral conscience of the world and embodiment of the finest in human spirit in the universal struggle for peace, justice and freedom. He remains that today and, I believe, for ever. On behalf of the members of the Special Committee and indeed of the other distinguished delegates of this world body present here today, I welcome you, Mr. Mandela, to our midst once again.
Distinguished Delegates,
In his life-long vocation to freedom, Mr. Mandela has contributed not only to the elimination of the pillars of apartheid and the advancement of democracy, human rights and social justice in South Africa, but has also, through his statesmanship, set an example that will enhance the cause of freedom and democracy in other parts of the world.
The Special Committee against Apartheid has in its thirty years of existence, exerted every effort to ensure that the policies of apartheid, the obnoxious system of institutionalized racism, a crime against humanity and an affront to human dignity, are completely eradicated. The people of South Africa must be able, through democratic change and on the basis of universal suffrage, to build a new, prosperous and just society. This has been the dual mandate of the Special Committee against Apartheid.
As political leaders of South Africa negotiate in earnest to move peacefully from an exclusionary system of government towards a non-racial democratic State, the United Nations, in particular the Special Committee against Apartheid, stands committed to render every support towards the process of peaceful transition to a new, non-racial and democratic South Africa.
The achievements in the negotiations in South Africa thus far are welcomed by the Committee. Indeed, these achievements have come at a crucial moment in the history of Africa, a continent which has been subjected to colonization, racism, deprivation and lack of economic progress. We are confident that the peaceful transformation of South Africa to a united, democratic and non-racial society will have a great impact on the democratization process as well as economic process in the continent.
Distinguished Delegates,
The international community must continue to monitor closely developments as they unfold in South Africa. The Special Committee, therefore, calls upon the members of the United Nations to walk hand-in-hand with the oppressed people of South Africa, to the last mile, until they can say, in the words popularized by the late Martin Luther King, Jr., "free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last".
Distinguished Delegates,
It is a great honour and with a sense of participating in bold historical change in the modern history of Africa, and in particular in South Africa, that I now invite the President of the African National Congress of South Africa, Mr. Nelson Mandela, to address this meeting.