8 October 1993
Mr. President,
Distinguished Delegates,
On 24 September 1993, I had the honour and privilege to welcome here in this Hall, the President of the African National Congress of South Africa, Dr. Nelson Mandela, who addressed the Special Committee against Apartheid on an issue of utmost importance for the people of South Africa and the international community at large. Outlining the latest encouraging developments in the South African peace process, he paid tribute to the support by the international community that had brought South Africa to the point where the transition to democracy has now been enshrined in the law of the country. The international community, he said, should now lay the basis for halting the economic slide to a socio-economic disaster in South Africa, as one of the imperatives in ensuring the very success of the democratic transformation itself. He, therefore, called on the international community to lift all economic sanctions against South Africa in response to the historic advances towards democracy that have been achieved, to strengthen the forces of democratic change and to help create the necessary conditions for stability and social progress.
Bearing these developments in mind, and taking account of the fact that a broad spectrum of the South African people believe enough progress has been made in the process of their transition to democracy to necessitate the lifting of economic sanctions, the international community cannot but recognise this reality and act in consonance with the wishes of the people of South Africa, even as it recognises the existence of differences between the two liberation movements, the ANC and PAC, on the timing of the lifting of these sanctions.
At an extraordinary ministerial meeting of the OAU Ad Hoc Committee on Southern Africa which took place in New York on 29 September 1993, the appeal for the lifting of economic sanctions was endorsed on behalf of the OAU. African States, the international community at large, and the United Nations in particular, have been called upon to respond positively to this appeal. Accordingly, I discussed the matter with members of the Special Committee against Apartheid and had consultations with many other Member States of the United Nations.
While the Ad Hoc Committee specifically supported the lifting of all economic sanctions, it excepted those relating to the arms embargo and nuclear matters which have been imposed by the Security Council. With respect to the oil embargo it held the view that this should be lifted after the establishment and commencement of the work of the Transitional Executive Council (TEC).
Mr. President,
Distinguished Delegates,
It is in this context, that I would like to introduce resolution which is entitled "Lifting of economic sanctions against South Africa". While the first preambular paragraph reminds us to bear in mind the objectives of the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa adopted by consensus on 14 December 1989, the second preambular paragraph takes note of the fact that the transition to democracy has now been enshrined in the law of South Africa.
In operative paragraph 1, the General Assembly would decide that all provisions adopted by the General Assembly relating to prohibitions or restrictions on economic relations with South Africa and its nationals shall cease to have effect once this resolution has been adopted. All States are requested to take appropriate measures within their jurisdiction to lift restrictions and prohibitions they had imposed to implement previous General Assembly resolutions and decisions.
In operative paragraph 2, the General Assembly would further decide that all provisions adopted by the General Assembly relating to the imposition of an embargo on the supply of petroleum and petroleum products to South Africa and on investment in the petroleum industry, shall cease to have effect as of the date that the Transitional Executive Council becomes operational. All States are again requested to take appropriate measures within their jurisdiction to lift those restrictions or prohibitions.
Mr. President,
As I mentioned earlier, tabling this resolution has been preceded by extensive consultation with members of the various regional groups. These consultations encouraged me to hope that the resolution can be adopted without debate and without a vote. By adopting this resolution by consensus, the General Assembly would send a strong signal to the South African people that the international community, and the United Nations in particular, are ready to assist them in the economic reconstruction of their country, and to ensure that the new South Africa begins its existence unfettered by the constraints imposed on the old South Africa.